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John Kerry begins Mid East tour with stop in Egypt | |
(about 5 hours later) | |
US Secretary of State John Kerry has arrived on an unannounced visit to Egypt as he begins a tour of countries in the region. | |
Mr Kerry, the most senior American official to visit Egypt since the ousting of President Mohammed Morsi in July, will stay only a few hours. | |
The visit comes at a time of tension between Washington and Cairo. Mr Morsi is due to go on trial on Monday. | |
Mr Kerry will go on to tour countries in the Middle East and North Africa. | |
John Kerry's visit to Cairo was kept under wraps by US officials until he landed - although Egyptian state media did announce his arrival - the first time a US secretary of State has travelled to Egypt on what is known as an unannounced visit for security reasons. | |
The BBC's Kim Ghattas, travelling with Mr Kerry, says it is the kind of precaution that characterizes trips by US officials to countries like Afghanistan and Iraq. | |
This is a sign of US concerns about continued instability in the country, but it's also a reaction to the high level of anti-American resentment in Egypt, our correspondent says. | |
Although Washington has not declared the military takeover that deposed the Islamist Mr Morsi a coup, it has de facto suspended military aid to Egypt in compliance with US law. | |
This has angered supporters of the army, while supporters of the Muslim Brotherhood also feel bitter and accuse the US of letting them down. | |
Mr Kerry's visit comes a day before the trial of Mr Morsi who is accused of inciting the killing of protesters outside the presidential palace in December 2012. | |
But the State Department said the timing of Mr Kerry's visit was not connected to the trial, our correspondent adds. | |
Mr Kerry will meet the interim leaders that assumed control following July's ouster - President Adly Mahmud Mansour, Prime Minister Hazem el-Beblawi, the foreign minister and army chief Gen Abdel Fattah al-Sisi. | |
He is also reported to be meeting, behind closed doors, members of Egyptian civil society alarmed by a crackdown in which hundreds of people have died. | |
Trade and defence | |
Saudi Arabia, Israel, Jordan and Morocco are among the countries on the next stages of Mr Kerry's itinerary, which spans 3 to 12 November. | |
After his Egyptian visit, Secretary Kerry will go on to the Saudi capital, Riyadh. | |
The Saudi government has recently expressed its disappointment with what it sees as America's hesitant approach in Syria and a lack of support for the new Egyptian government. | The Saudi government has recently expressed its disappointment with what it sees as America's hesitant approach in Syria and a lack of support for the new Egyptian government. |
Mr Kerry is expected to discuss defence and trade issues with officials, with Syria likely to be high on the agenda across the region. | Mr Kerry is expected to discuss defence and trade issues with officials, with Syria likely to be high on the agenda across the region. |
The secretary of state will also meet Israeli and Palestinian leaders to discuss the peace process in Jerusalem and Bethlehem. | The secretary of state will also meet Israeli and Palestinian leaders to discuss the peace process in Jerusalem and Bethlehem. |
He will then travel to Algeria and Morocco towards the end of the nine-day trip to chair strategic dialogue meetings. | He will then travel to Algeria and Morocco towards the end of the nine-day trip to chair strategic dialogue meetings. |
Mr Kerry may also have to face difficult questions over allegations of widespread US spying. | Mr Kerry may also have to face difficult questions over allegations of widespread US spying. |
In the wake of revelations sparked by leaks from ex-US intelligence contractor Edward Snowden, Mr Kerry said last week that spying by the US National Security Agency may have gone too far. | In the wake of revelations sparked by leaks from ex-US intelligence contractor Edward Snowden, Mr Kerry said last week that spying by the US National Security Agency may have gone too far. |