Mubarak starts European tour to discuss issues of the ME region

The Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak headed on Thursday for Rome in his first station within a European tour covering in addition to Italy each of the Vatican, Germany and Austria.

The Egyptian Middle East news Agency MENA said that the Egyptian President will discuss with the leaders of these countries "the Iraqi issue and the developments of conditions in the Palestinians territories" after Hamas's winning of the elections.

The Egyptian president will also discuss latest developments concerning Sudan's Darfur district after Sudan had rejected to transfer the authorities of the African force deployed in the district to UN forces.

The agency quoted the spokesman for the Egyptian Presidency Suleiman Awad as saying that the Egyptian President will leave the Italian capital on Friday for Berlin before his visit to Vienna on Sunday.

Awad explained that Mubarak will visit in his way back the Vatican where he will be meeting with Bendict 16th, but he did not set the date of the visit.