U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry has met with Egyptian government officials and some opposition politicians on his first visit to Cairo as the top U.S. diplomat.
Some Egyptian opposition leaders refused to meet with Kerry, saying Washington is siding with Egypt's ruling Muslim Brotherhood group in the country's ongoing political struggle.
Mohamed ElBaradei, who heads the opposition National Salvation Front, refused to meet with Kerry, as did two other top leaders, Hamdeen Sebahi and Sayed al Badawi. Other opposition figures, including Amr Moussa and Ayman Nour, did speak with the secretary.
But during a news conference with Egyptian Foreign Minister Mohamed Kamel Amr, Kerry said he had come to support the Egyptian people and not to take sides in the country's politics.
Dozen of protesters gathered outside the Egyptian Foreign Ministry as Kerry met with Amr.
Some Egyptian opposition leaders refused to meet with Kerry, saying Washington is siding with Egypt's ruling Muslim Brotherhood group in the country's ongoing political struggle.
Mohamed ElBaradei, who heads the opposition National Salvation Front, refused to meet with Kerry, as did two other top leaders, Hamdeen Sebahi and Sayed al Badawi. Other opposition figures, including Amr Moussa and Ayman Nour, did speak with the secretary.
But during a news conference with Egyptian Foreign Minister Mohamed Kamel Amr, Kerry said he had come to support the Egyptian people and not to take sides in the country's politics.
Dozen of protesters gathered outside the Egyptian Foreign Ministry as Kerry met with Amr.
