Mubarak meets with Bahraini ruler today

Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and Bahraini Emir Sheikh Hamad Bin Issa Bin Salman al-Khaleifa will hold talks today dealing with the situation in the region and the current preparations to convene a pan-Arab summit.

The visit of the Emir of Bahrain to Egypt is considered the first since he assumed power in March in succession of his father, Sheikh Issa Bin Salman.

Bahrain's foreign minister arrived in Cairo on Sunday to prepare for the visit of Sheikh Hamad, which will deal with the future of the Middle East peace process after the new Israeli government assumes power in Israel.

Diplomatic sources said the visit of the ruler of Bahrain to Egypt falls in the context of the contacts Mubarak is currently making in preparation for holding a pan-Arab summit. The contacts have so far included King Hassan II of Morocco, King Abdullah Bin Hussein of Jordan, Algerian President Abdul Aziz Bouteflika, Palestinian President Yasser Arafat, and Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz.

The sources added that the Egyptian - Bahraini talks will also cover Arab - Iranian relations, the situations in Iraq and the Gulf as well as bilateral relations.