Ahmadinejad meets Egyptian Imam, meeting described as "tense"

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Sunni-Shiite tensions dominated talks between Mr. Ahmadinejad and Egypt’s most prominent cleric, Sheik Ahmed el-Tayeb, who upbraided the Iranian leader on a string of issues and warned against Iranian interference in Gulf nations, particularly Bahrain, where the ruling Sunni minority has faced protests by the Shiite majority.

Mr. el-Tayeb said attempts to spread Shiite Islam in mainly Sunni Arab nations were unacceptable and called for a halt to bloodshed in Syria, where Tehran’s ally Mr. al-Assad has been battling rebels, according to a statement by Al-Azhar about the meeting.

The meeting was “tense,” acknowledged an aide to the sheik, Hussein al-Shafie, speaking at a news conference with Mr. Ahmadinejad that Mr. el-Tayeb did not attend.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/egypt-rolls-out-the-red-carpet-for-ahmadinejad/article8285567/