In less than 24 hours, the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces has issued two statements concerning Egypt's relations with Arab countries. In the first statement, issued Monday night, the council clarified that it permitted Ahmed Gaddaf Addam, Muammar Gaddifi's cousin, to stay in Egypt on condition that he does not carry out any political activity that might harm Egyptian interests. The Army denied earlier media reports that Gaddaf Addam is recruiting young Egyptian men to join the Libyan army as mercenaries in its war against the revolutionaries in the east.

In another statement, published today on its Facebook page, the council denied that Egypt was subjected to any kind of pressure by Saudi Arabia or the UAE. It was stressed that the relationship between Egypt and the two countries is "historical and based on Egypt's belief of its Arab and national role in maintaining the security of our brothers in the Gulf, which we consider a part of our national security."

Earlier media reports had alleged that the two gulf countries were pressuring the interim Egyptian government not put ousted president Hosni Mubarak on trial. They were reported to have offered a generous aid package to ensure Mubarak is not prosecuted.