CAIRO, Nov 1 (Aswat Masriya) - Egypt's Azhar University suspended Saturday Islamic law Scholar Ahmed Kereima for three months, because of his failure to obtain the university's permit for an unannounced visit to Iran, University President Abd el-Hay Azab said.

The suspension was decided upon after Kereima was interrogated by the university's legal affairs, Azab told Aswat Masriya, adding that the penalty administered was based on the university regulations.

The university administration does not hold anything personal against Professor Kereima, Azab said, stressing that Kereima should have obtained a travel permit from the university before his visit. Kerima installed himself as an Azhar representative, even though he did not disclose his trip to the institution where he works, according to Azab.

Kereima had travelled to Iran in September to attend conferences and seminars on bridging intellectual doctrines. He spoke as a representative of al-Azhar at one of these seminars, held at al-Mustafa University, without obtaining an authorisation to do so.

The scholar had previously presented a draft for cooperation and joint action between one of the Shi'ite doctrines and al-Azhar University in many fields, and proposed holding of joint conferences to counter Islamic extremism, he said.