Clinton in Egypt for first talks with new president Morsi

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton arrived in Egypt on Saturday for talks with new President Mohamed Morsi, an AFP reporter said.

Over two days, she will meet Morsi, Field Marshal Hussein Tantawi-- the country`s military ruler after Hosni Mubarak was ousted in a popular uprising last year -- as well as women activists and Coptic leaders, according to US officials.

Her visit was aimed at lending US support to Egypt`s difficult transition to democracy, they said.

Clinton will discuss with Egypt`s leaders "the steps that the Egyptians are planning to take... on the constitution, on the parliament and the other aspects of institutions that will ultimately result in a full transition to democratic civilian rule," a state department official told reporters.

"These are questions that only the Egyptians can answer. She`s not coming with prescriptions, or with a specific set of proposals but rather is going to seek to understand better how they intend to proceed," the official said.

Clinton steps into the political maelstrom of a complex power struggle between the president and the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF) that ruled Egypt after Hosni Mubarak was ousted last year.

She will seek to "underscore her view that dialogue among the stake-holders to develop a consensus on the way forward is crucial to avoid the kind of instability or confrontation that could derail the transition," the official said.

Source: ANTARA