Mubarak discusses with Powell ways to stop further deterioration

Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak received yesterday US Secretary of State Colin Powell and his accompanying delegation.

The talks come as part of the intensive contacts by President Mubarak at the international level to help put an end to the Israeli killing and destruction operations against the Palestinians.

The talks are also aimed at ending the Israeli siege of the Palestinian President Yasser Arafat in his Headquarters in Ramallah.

During the meeting, President Mubarak underlined the requirement for the US Secretary of State Colin Powell to meet Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat.

After his talks, US Secretary of State Colin Powell said he intended to meet Palestinian President Yasser Arafat this week, after previously saying he would meet him "if circumstances permit".

Powell arrived in Madrid for a meeting including also Spanish Foreign Minister Joseph Pique whose country is holding the EU rotating presidency, United Nations Secretary Kofi Annan and the EU Commissioner for security and Foreign Affairs Javier Solana along with Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov.

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