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Bomb alert at FIFA congress in Zurich

Earlier, pro-Palestinian protesters had briefly interrupted the FIFA congress

Zurich: Officials in Zurich have confirmed a bomb scare while the much-talked about FIFA congress was in progress in Zurich on Friday.

Earlier, pro-Palestinian protesters briefly interrupted the FIFA congress with world football's governing body set to vote later on whether to expel Israel from the organisation.

The two female protesters halted president Sepp Blatter's opening address, waving red cards at FIFA representatives and chanting 'Israel out!" before being escorted out of the hall by security guards.

A group of around 150 pro-Palestinian protestors had gathered to chant outside Zurich's Hallenstadion before the congress started.

Blatter apologised for the brief delay of just a few minutes and called for security guards in the building to be more vigilant.

Palestine, which has been a FIFA member since 1998, wants the governing body to expel Israel over its restrictions on the movement of Palestinian players.

It also opposes the participation in the Israeli championships of five clubs located in Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank.

The scheduled vote needs a two-thirds majority of the 209 members to succeed.

Leaders of FIFA have been working hard behind the scenes to head off the vote and last week Blatter even went to both Israel and the Palestinian territories to try and find a solution.

Briefly before the protestors made their move, Blatter had called for "discipline and fair play" from the FIFA represetentatives as they seek to resolve the issue.

( Source : AFP )
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