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Mubarak makes White House return Mubarak makes White House return
(21 minutes later)
President Hosni Mubarak of Egypt is preparing for his first talks at the White House since 2002, when a chill descended on US-Egyptian ties.President Hosni Mubarak of Egypt is preparing for his first talks at the White House since 2002, when a chill descended on US-Egyptian ties.
Mr Mubarak has praised President Barack Obama, who made a key speech in Cairo in June outlining his Mid-East plans.Mr Mubarak has praised President Barack Obama, who made a key speech in Cairo in June outlining his Mid-East plans.
He is expected to tell Mr Obama Arab states are willing to do their bit for peace if Israel freezes settlement activity in the occupied West Bank.He is expected to tell Mr Obama Arab states are willing to do their bit for peace if Israel freezes settlement activity in the occupied West Bank.
Israel has so far refused to take that step, despite repeated US calls.Israel has so far refused to take that step, despite repeated US calls.
On Monday, Mr Mubarak repeated his insistence in an Egyptian newspaper interview that Arab states would normalise relations with Israel, but only once a comprehensive peace was achieved.On Monday, Mr Mubarak repeated his insistence in an Egyptian newspaper interview that Arab states would normalise relations with Israel, but only once a comprehensive peace was achieved.
BBC Diplomatic correspondent Jonathan Marcus says the Obama administration has sought to press the reset button with Egypt.BBC Diplomatic correspondent Jonathan Marcus says the Obama administration has sought to press the reset button with Egypt.
During the Bush years, the two close allies fell out over Iraq, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and Egypt's human rights record.During the Bush years, the two close allies fell out over Iraq, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and Egypt's human rights record.
White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said the Obama-Mubarak meeting should be seen as "continuing our outreach in the Middle East".White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said the Obama-Mubarak meeting should be seen as "continuing our outreach in the Middle East".
"Each country in the region on either side of this issue has certain responsibilities to uphold as we make progress toward a lasting peace in the Middle East," he continued."Each country in the region on either side of this issue has certain responsibilities to uphold as we make progress toward a lasting peace in the Middle East," he continued.
Mr Mubarak's Washington trip had been scheduled for May as part of a new round of Middle East negotiations, but he cancelled it following the death of his much-loved 12-year-old grandchild, Muhammad Ala Mubarak.
Rights disputeRights dispute
Mr Mubarak's Washington trip had been scheduled for May as part of a new round of Middle East negotiations, but he cancelled it following the death of his much-loved 12-year-old grandchild, Muhammad Ala Mubarak.
We would like to see Egypt embark on a path to expand political dialogue State spokesman Philip Crowley US pressure on Arab states grows
Talks between Mr Mubarak and US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton took place on Monday night. In addition to Israel and the Palestinians, talks covered Iran, which both nations fear is building nuclear weapons.Talks between Mr Mubarak and US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton took place on Monday night. In addition to Israel and the Palestinians, talks covered Iran, which both nations fear is building nuclear weapons.
State Department spokesman Philip Crowley said Ms Clinton also raised Egypt's human rights record, which has been strongly criticised by campaigning groups.State Department spokesman Philip Crowley said Ms Clinton also raised Egypt's human rights record, which has been strongly criticised by campaigning groups.
"It is something that we raise in every high-level meeting that we have," Mr Crowley told reporters. "We would like to see Egypt embark on a path to expand political dialogue.""It is something that we raise in every high-level meeting that we have," Mr Crowley told reporters. "We would like to see Egypt embark on a path to expand political dialogue."
Human Rights Watch has called Mr Mubarak, who has ruled Egypt for 28 years, an authoritarian ruler "presiding over a system in which opponents are muzzled and imprisoned, and where torture is widespread".
Adding to the deterioration in ties during George Bush's second term in office was the open US criticism of the human rights and democratic situation in Egypt.Adding to the deterioration in ties during George Bush's second term in office was the open US criticism of the human rights and democratic situation in Egypt.
However, analysts say this was later softened amid concerns about the democratic resurgence of radical Islamist movements like the Palestinian Hamas and Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood.However, analysts say this was later softened amid concerns about the democratic resurgence of radical Islamist movements like the Palestinian Hamas and Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood.
'Interference'
Human Rights Watch has called Mr Mubarak, who has ruled Egypt for 28 years, an authoritarian ruler "presiding over a system in which opponents are muzzled and imprisoned, and where torture is widespread".
Mr Mubarak said in a US television interview that he would not tolerate outside interference in his country's affairs.Mr Mubarak said in a US television interview that he would not tolerate outside interference in his country's affairs.
Mr Obama's speech in Cairo in June was intended to set a new tone in US relations with the Arab and Muslim worlds, by stressing greater mutual understanding, but some critics said the rhetoric hid an absence of concrete policy.Mr Obama's speech in Cairo in June was intended to set a new tone in US relations with the Arab and Muslim worlds, by stressing greater mutual understanding, but some critics said the rhetoric hid an absence of concrete policy.
The Israeli government has balked at the rare US pressure to halt its expansion of settlements on occupied Palestinian land, saying settlements must be allowed "natural growth".The Israeli government has balked at the rare US pressure to halt its expansion of settlements on occupied Palestinian land, saying settlements must be allowed "natural growth".
Intense diplomacy is continuing to find a compromise between the normally closely-aligned allies; meanwhile, Egypt has been expending its efforts to bring about reconciliation between the warring Palestinian parties Hamas and Fatah.Intense diplomacy is continuing to find a compromise between the normally closely-aligned allies; meanwhile, Egypt has been expending its efforts to bring about reconciliation between the warring Palestinian parties Hamas and Fatah.