British Prime Minister Mr Tony Blair has arrived in Cairo on the latest leg of his Middle East diplomatic mission after the heaviest wave yet of air strikes against Afghanistan.
He will have talks with President Mr Hosni Mubarak on the international fight against terrorism and the need to put the Middle East peace process back on track.
Mr Blair has spoken to Palestinian President Mr Yasser Arafat by telephone and believes restarting the Middle East peace process could play a crucial role in defusing hostility towards the coalition action.
"I cannot say how long it [the bombing campaign] will go on for. The precise nature of the next stage of action is something that's not sensible to discuss at the moment but we have always been aware that you have to back up air strikes with other forms of targeted action," said Mr Blair.
"We need to show people in the region that we are absolutely sincere in our desire to push [the Middle East peace process] forward and get it back on track.
"President Mubarak is a key figure in the Arab world. He has been courageous in support of us in this situation".
Mr Blair will have to reassure Egypt and its Arab neighbours over fears that the US-led military action will extend beyond Afghanistan's borders.
And he could face the same "forthright" criticism of Britain’s policy towards radical Egyptian Islamists who have been granted asylum in Britain as Foreign Secretary Mr Jack Straw said he faced on a visit here last month.
PA/AFP