Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit released a statement denying media reports that Cairo has agreed to join American allied military forces in the region and thereby permit America to establish a military presence on Egyptian soil.

According to Arab media reports, Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak is expected to close such a deal during his upcoming visit to the White House later this month. Officials report the Egyptian leader during his visit to Washington will address a number of other issues including the Arab-Israeli conflict, Persian Gulf security and improving relations between Cairo and Washington.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)