CAIRO: Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak sent a message of congratulations to U.S. President Barack Obama, in which he called on him to give "the Palestinian issue an urgent priority." According to The Middle East news agency today, Mubarak asserted in the congratulations message to Obama on the occasion of his presidential inauguration, "I assure you that this region is looking forward to your dealing from the first day of your administration, with the Palestinian issue as an urgent priority, and the key to resolving the rest of the difficult crises in the Middle East". Mubarak said he hoped that "the coming period would witness a new era of fruitful consultations between us on various regional issues in the Middle East, and ways to strengthen relations and cooperation between our two friendly country."
Egypt is a key ally of the United States in the region.