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Egypt supports Saudi nominee as new OIC chief

Xinhua, November 1, 2016 Adjust font size:

Egypt said on Monday evening that the country supported Saudi Arabia's nomination of its former social affairs minister Youssef bin Ahmed Al-Othaimeen as the new chief of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).

"Egypt voices its support of the Saudi nominee for the new post out of appreciation of the important role played by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in supporting the activities of the OIC," said the Egyptian Foreign Ministry in a statement.

The OIC said earlier that Iyad Madani, also a former Saudi minister, had submitted his resignation as the organization's secretary-general, citing "health reasons."

Madani's resignation came after an Egyptian campaign against the man for his remarks in a recent conference in Tunisia, which were understood to be made in a mocking tone about Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi. Endit