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John Kerry to begin Mid East tour amid regional tension John Kerry begins Mid East tour with stop in Egypt
(about 5 hours later)
US Secretary of State John Kerry begins a tour of countries in the Middle East and North Africa on Sunday. US Secretary of State John Kerry has arrived on an unannounced visit to Egypt as he begins a tour of countries in the region.
Saudi Arabia, Israel, Jordan and Morocco are among the countries listed on the itinerary. 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.
Although it is not on the official agenda, there are also reports he may visit Egypt, where relations have been strained since the overthrow of President Mohammed Morsi. The visit comes at a time of tension between Washington and Cairo. Mr Morsi is due to go on trial on Monday.
The former leader is due to go on trial on Monday. Mr Kerry will go on to tour countries in the Middle East and North Africa.
Poland, Abu Dhabi and Algeria are also on John Kerry's official itinerary, which spans 3 to 12 November. 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.
Saudi concerns 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.
Mr Kerry, who is the United States' top diplomat, is likely to try to repair a decades-old alliance with Egypt if his visit there goes ahead. 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.
Earlier this year, Washington froze part of the $1.5bn it gives in annual aid to Egypt because of a lack of democratic progress and violence against supporters of the Islamist President Morsi. 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.
The interim government has criticised the American position. 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 Morsi goes on trial on Monday accused of inciting the killing of protesters outside the presidential palace in December 2012. 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.
Hundreds of people have died in violence since Mr Morsi was removed from power by the army on 3 July. But the State Department said the timing of Mr Kerry's visit was not connected to the trial, our correspondent adds.
Secretary Kerry's first official stop is Riyadh. 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.