Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak met today in Cairo with Saudi Foreign Minister Saud al-Faisal to discuss Iraq's political deadlock caused by the failure to form a new government as well as the latest developments in Lebanon. Analysts say the UN Special Tribunal for Lebanon, a committee designed to investigate the 2005 assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri, may indict Hezbollah members. In a joint press conference with al-Faisal following the meeting, Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul Gheit said President Mubarak received a message from Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz with suggestions for solving the political impasse in Iraq, as well as his thoughts on Lebanon's tribunal developments. On behalf of the king, al-Faisal said Egypt and Saudi Arabia can only provide "advice" to Iraq over its recent political crisis, stressing that the final decision over the problem remains in the hands of Iraqis. "Egypt and Saudi Arabia are on an equal footing concerning the Iraq issue," al-Faisal said, adding that both countries aspire for an Iraqi government that "grants the Iraqi people a real representation, and makes all sects equal in rights and in duties." Al-Faisal said Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's recent visit to Lebanon created a vital impetus which he hoped would push peace forward.
