UPDATE : Sisi checks on health of Iraq’s Kadhimi

This came only hours after an attempt on the life of the Iraqi premier in Iraqi capital Baghdad.

The president expressed his deepest wishes of safety for Prime Minister Al-Kadhimi and of stability and peace for Iraq and its people, Presidency Spokesman, Ambassador Bassam Radi, said.

He added that Prime Minister Al-Kadhimi expressed gratefulness for the president’s gesture, considering it a reflection of the strength of historical relations between Egypt and Iraq.

Premier Al-Kadhimi expressed his best wishes for Egypt and its people, Ambassador Radi said.

Meanwhile, the Foreign Ministry denounced in the strongest terms the assassination attempt against the Iraqi prime minister.

Egypt, it said in a statement, stands by Iraq against threats to its security and stability.

It added that Egypt also stands by this fellow Arab state against threats to it’s the unity of its people.

“These desperate terrorist acts will not scare Iraq away from completing its national achievements,” the Foreign Ministry said in its statement.

It added that these national achievements included the latest parliamentary elections which took place last month.

“Egypt calls on all Iraqi parties to practice self-restraint,” the Foreign Ministry said.

It added that these parties have to prioritize the interests of their country to preserve the security and stability of Iraq.

Mr Kadhimi said a few hours earlier that he had escaped unhurt after a drone attack on his home inside Baghdad’s high-security Green Zone.

A drone laden with explosives struck the building, injuring six of his bodyguards in an apparent assassination attempt, officials said.

Mr Kadhimi called for “calm and restraint from everyone”.

The attack, which comes after violent unrest over recent election results, was condemned by a large number of other countries, including the United states.

Security sources say three drones were used in the attack, launched from near Republic Bridge on the River Tigris, but two were shot down.

There has been no claim of responsibility for the attack yet.