Mubarak to meet Russian FM over Mideast situation

Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak willmeet with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov over the volatileMideast situation on Friday, the official MENA new agency reportedThursday.

The meeting will be held at the Egyptian Red Sea resort of Sharmel-Sheikh.

Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul Gheit will also hold talkswith Lavrov on Saturday to discuss the situation in the occupiedPalestinian lands and Egypt's efforts to reactivate the stalledpeace process and put the roadmap peace plan into effect.

In addition, the two ministers will mull over the situation inIraq and the Darfur crisis in Sudan.

Russian Foreign Ministry announced in a statement on Aug. 30that Lavrov would kick off his maiden Mideast tour on Sept. 3 in abid to help resolve problems facing the Middle East."The visit's attention will focus on reconciling problems inIraq and the Middle East," the statement said.

Apart from Egypt, the top Russian diplomat will also visitLibya, Israel and Syria throughout Sept. 7. Enditem

Source: Xinhua