Egypt and India agree on the importance of expanding the UN Security Council and carrying out UN reforms, said the Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul-Gheit.

The African countries, including Egypt, want two permanent seats for the continent with a veto power while India demands a permanent seat and is committed to the right of veto, Abul-Gheit said at a joint press conference with his Indian counterpart Pranab Mukherjee late Wednesday.

Abul Gheit said Mukherjee expressed India's support of the African stance.

Abul-Gheit said his talks with the Indian guest covered the developments in Lebanon, Palestine, Iraq and Darfur.

The Egyptian Foreign Minister urged the Palestinians not to do any action that would threaten the truce deal reached with Israel.

The Palestinian side should not be provoked and Israeli operations in the West Bank must be stopped so that the Palestinians would not be obliged to respond from Gaza," Abul-Gheit said.

As for Iran, Abul-Gheit warned that any military attack on Iran would lead to a dangerous situation that will not be accepted neither by the Islamic world nor the international community.

'' We should be cautious or it will be an impasse that will create a very tense regional situation." he said.

Abul-Gheit said he welcomes a strategic dialogue between Egypt and India at all levels.

India appreciates the role Egypt plays in pushing forward the Middle East peace process, the Indian Foreign Minister said.

India supports African calls for an end of continued Israeli attacks against the Palestinians, Mukherjee said. Any problem should not be solved through violence but through peaceful efforts either by the Arab League, Egypt or any Arab country to realize lasting  peace, he said.

Cooperation with Egypt in the nuclear field at the present time is not possible as India is not one of the 45 members of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and is not a signatory to the treaty, he said. The members of the treaty can cooperate together and India is not one of them and so it is prohibited to trade in nuclear materials with any country, he said.