AFP – US Secretary of Defence Robert Gates arrived in Cairo Wednesday for talks with President Hosni Mubarak on the Middle East peace process and weapons sales.
"I’m going to be interested in President Mubarak’s views on the situation in region," said Gates, speaking ahead of departure to Cairo.
The defence secretary, on a Middle East tour that began on Monday in Amman, said he will also discuss with the Egyptian leader events in Iraq, Iran’s growing strength in the region and the situation in Lebanon.
His trip to Egypt was delayed by a day due to the fierce sandstorm that closed down the Cairo airport for several hours on Tuesday.
Gates, in the region to rally support for Iraq’s government and counter Iran’s growing influence, held talks with King Abdullah II in Amman on Tuesday.
