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Kerry in key talks with Egypt's Sisi US 'will stand with Egypt's people' - Secretary Kerry
(about 1 hour later)
US Secretary of State John Kerry is holding key talks in Egypt with new President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi. Washington will "stand with the Egyptian people in their fight for the future they want", US Secretary of State John Kerry has pledged.
Mr Kerry was expected to urge Mr Sisi to embrace more inclusive politics, and say the crackdown on the banned Muslim Brotherhood is polarising the nation. He was speaking after talks in the capital Cairo with Egypt's newly elected President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi.
The US has released $575m (£338m) in military aid to Egypt that had been on hold, state department officials said. Mr Kerry also stressed the importance of the right to free speech and the rule of law.
Mr Sisi, the 59-year-old ex-army chief, won elections in May, pledging to tackle "terrorism" and bring security. The US has unfrozen $575m (£338m) in military aid to Egypt, state department officials said.
Mr Sisi, the 59-year-old ex-army chief, won elections in May, promising to tackle "terrorism" and bring security.
The retired field marshal overthrew President Mohammed Morsi last July amid mass protests against his rule.The retired field marshal overthrew President Mohammed Morsi last July amid mass protests against his rule.
He has since been pursuing a crackdown on Mr Morsi's Muslim Brotherhood, which urged a boycott of the 26-28 May elections. Liberal and secular activists also shunned the poll in protest at the curtailing of civil rights.He has since been pursuing a crackdown on Mr Morsi's Muslim Brotherhood, which urged a boycott of the 26-28 May elections. Liberal and secular activists also shunned the poll in protest at the curtailing of civil rights.
Advice ignoredAdvice ignored
Mr Kerry arrived in Cairo on Sunday on an unannounced visit, the most senior US official there since the election.Mr Kerry arrived in Cairo on Sunday on an unannounced visit, the most senior US official there since the election.
American officials said he would tell Mr Sisi that although he understands the country's security challenges, the Egyptian government needs to do more to reach out to the Muslim brotherhood, reports the BBC's Kim Ghattas, who is travelling with Mr Kerry. At a news conference after talks with Mr Sisi, he said he had "candid" discussions with the Egyptian leader on broad range of issues.
Before the talks with Mr Sisi began, Mr Kerry said: "Obviously, this is a critical moment of transition in Egypt with enormous challenges. He stressed that "Egyptian society is stronger" when all citizens had a say.
"The United States is very interested in working closely with President Sisi and his cabinet and Egypt in order to help make this transition as rapidly and smoothly as possible." "For Egypt, this is a moment of high stakes and also a big opportunity," Mr Kerry said, acknowledging that a number of promises by Egyptian leaders "are yet to be fulfilled".
America's top diplomat is also expected to call for the release of imprisoned journalists. Before the talks with Mr Sisi began, Mr Kerry said that Washington was " very interested in working closely with President Sisi and his cabinet and Egypt in order to help make this transition as rapidly and smoothly as possible."
"We have a longstanding relationship... that's built on several different pillars", a senior state department official was quoted as saying by the AFP news agency. Egypt remains a strategic ally for Washington, and Mr Kerry's visit so soon after Mr Sisi's inauguration shows the US is still keen to engage actively and early on with the new president in the hope it will make a difference, reports the BBC's Kim Ghattas, who is travelling with Mr Kerry.
"It's at a difficult juncture right now, that's true, and we have serious concerns about the political environment," the official said. But our correspondent says that the last time Mr Kerry was in Cairo in November his advice was ignored.
Egypt remains a strategic ally for Washington, and Mr Kerry's visit so soon after Mr Sisi's inauguration shows the US is still keen to engage actively and early on with the new president in the hope it will make a difference, our correspondent says. Washington fears that the winner-takes-all attitude to politics in the region, from Egypt to Iraq is feeding instability, she adds.
But she adds that the last time Mr Kerry was in Cairo in November his advice was ignored.
Who is Egypt's new president?Who is Egypt's new president?
Profile: Abdul Fattah al-SisiProfile: Abdul Fattah al-Sisi