Cairo, Oct. 17 -- Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi on Saturday called for an emergency parliamentary session to authorise him to take defensive measures in support of Saudi Arabia if requested by the kingdom, as regional tensions threaten security and international shipping routes.
Egypt's parliament will convene on Sunday at 1 pm local time (1000 GMT) to consider the request, state-owned Al-Ahram newspaper reported, citing a parliamentary statement.
Speaking at a graduation ceremony at the Egyptian Military Academy in the New Administrative Capital, Sisi said Cairo would take all necessary measures to protect Saudi Arabia if Riyadh sought assistance, in line with the directives of King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman....