Audio By Carbonatix
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has held her first meeting with new Egyptian President Mohammed Mursi.
After the talks, she reaffirmed Washington's support for a "full transition to civilian rule" in Egypt.
President Mursi has become embroiled in a constitutional crisis after trying to reinstate a parliament dissolved by the judiciary and the military.
Mrs Clinton has backed Mr Mursi, saying Egyptians should get the government they voted for.
Mr Mursi, of the Muslim Brotherhood's Freedom and Justice Party, was elected in June in the country's first ever freely contested leadership vote.
'Prevent confrontation'
After the meeting in Cairo, Mrs Clinton told reporters: "I have come to Cairo to reaffirm the strong support of the United States for the Egyptian people and their democratic transition.
"We want to be a good partner and we want to support the democracy that has been achieved by the courage and sacrifice of the Egyptian people."
The BBC's Jon Leyne, in Cairo, says that not many years ago, one US secretary of state declared that Washington did not speak with the Muslim Brotherhood, and never would.
But, he says, the administration of Barack Obama has been quick to engage with the new president - a case of accepting the inevitable and trying to make the best of it.
The US government wants to see Egyptian democracy and human rights being protected.
The Muslim Brotherhood has repeatedly stressed it does not want to be isolated internationally, not least because the country depends so heavily on international trade and tourism.
Mr Mursi has tried to defuse the row over parliament - a body he tried to reinstate by decree last weekend.
The chamber was dominated by Mr Mursi's Islamist allies, and was shut down by the military before he took power.
The Supreme Constitutional Court has said the dissolution is final.
Mr Mursi has said he is "committed to the rulings of Egyptian judges and very keen to manage state powers and prevent any confrontation".
Mr Clinton said she would meet the head of the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (Scaf), Field Marshal Mohammed Hussein Tantawi, on Sunday.
He became the country's interim ruler after the fall of President Hosni Mubarak in February last year.
Asked what she would tell Field Marshal Tantawi, Mrs Clinton said she would make clear the US supports the return of the armed forced "to a purely military role".
Earlier this week, Mrs Clinton said Egyptians should "get what they protested for and what they voted for, which is a fully-elected government making the decisions for the country going forward".
Mrs Clinton arrived in Egypt from a week-long trip to Asia, and will later visit Israel.
DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.
Tags:
DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.
Latest Stories
-
‘OSP hasn’t contacted me’ – Patricia Appiagyei assures cooporation if invited
11 minutes -
I find it strange that this memo was purportedly written by me – Patricia Appiagyei
21 minutes -
Ayariga calls for stronger church partnership to tackle sanitation, environmental challenges
33 minutes -
I don’t think we have an industry – Patchbay Band manager
60 minutes -
Patchbay Band questions recognition of live bands in Ghana’s music industry
60 minutes -
Newsfile to discuss SOEs’ GH¢19.8bn profit, dissolution of 9 boards, CJ’s visits to SOEs, GH¢70k gift rejection
1 hour -
BoG warns against spraying, defacing and using cedi notes for decorations
1 hour -
Adwumawura: Selected applicants to receive notifications from today – NEIP CEO
1 hour -
‘Fake memo’ fabricated to smear me – Patricia Appiagyei
1 hour -
ATLF206: Culture, investment and tourism take centre stage as Africa’s tourism leaders gather in Polokwane
2 hours -
TI-Ghana and GACC demand full disclosure over alleged GH¢70,000 Appointments Committee payment
2 hours -
UN approves resolution in support of map that shows Africa’s true size
2 hours -
Spring Agro Industries urges Ghanaians to choose local rice as imports dominate market
3 hours -
Youths in Oti push for stronger policies on SRHR and gender-based violence
3 hours -
Rev Samuel Anthony Kofi Dunya calls for stronger action against child labour and trafficking
3 hours