Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul-Gheit heads for Washington Monday morning to take part in the Egyptian-US strategic dialogue, to be attended by US State Secretary Condoleezza Rice.
Abul-Gheit told reporters Sunday that the timing of the meeting comes at a critical stage and amid developments in Lebanon and the Palestinian territories.

The Foreign Minister said he expects that the outcome of the Arab foreign ministerial meeting in Cairo on Saturday will come high on the agenda of the Egyptian-US strategic dialogue.

Abul-Gheit said he will make a stopover in London, on his way back from Washington, to confer with British Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett on the Middle East tensions after Israel-Hizbullah fighting showed no sign of easing.

The top Egyptian diplomat said that he would further discuss with US officials the stance taken by the G8 on the situation in Lebanon and the Palestinian territories.