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Mubarak holds White House talks | |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Egyptian leader Hosni Mubarak has held talks at the White House with President Barack Obama during his first US visit for more than five years. | |
After the talks, Mr Mubarak praised Mr Obama for a key speech in Cairo on his Mid-East plans, AFP news agency says. | |
Mr Obama thanked Mr Mubarak for his efforts to work for a breakthrough between Israel and the Palestinians. | |
The Egyptian leader said the two sides needed to sit down together, but things "were moving in the right direction". | |
In Tuesday's closed-door meeting, Mr Mubarak had been expected to tell Mr Obama Arab that states were 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 restated his position that Arab states should 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. |
Rights concerns | |
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". |
We would like to see Egypt embark on a path to expand political dialogue State spokesman Philip Crowley US pressure on Arab states grows | We would like to see Egypt embark on a path to expand political dialogue State spokesman Philip Crowley US pressure on Arab states grows |
"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 said. | |
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." | |
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. |