Egypt envoy back in Algiers after football row

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CAIRO, Feb 7, 2010 (AFP) - Egypt's ambassador to Algeria, recalled in November after a bitter football row, has returned to Algiers, the foreign ministry told AFP on Sunday.

Abdel Aziz Seifelnasr returned to Algiers on Saturday, spokesman Hossam Zaki said.

Cairo withdrew the envoy after attacks on Egyptian football fans in Sudan and on Egyptian businesses in Algiers, following a November World Cup qualifier played in Sudan.

Egypt was defeated 1-0 by Algeria, losing the chance to advance to the World Cup finals in South Africa this year.

Egypt was outraged after football fans in Algeria ransacked and burned the offices of Egyptian companies in Algiers, including telecommunications giant Orascom.

Officials said at the time that Egyptian businesses had suffered millions of dollars in damages.

At an earlier match in Cairo, a bus carrying the Algerian football team was pelted with stones, leaving three players wounded, the team had said.