Oman's presidential advisor Omar Zawawi arrived in Egypt on Sunday and plans to meet Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak during his visit. Zawawi is the first Arab official to arrive in Cairo since the start of the nationwide pro-democracy protests that began 25 January. He will deliver a message from Oman's monarch, Sultan Qabus, which addresses the recent situation in Egypt, according to diplomatic sources. Observers believe the visit aims to express Arab solidarity with Mubarak's 30-year old regime. Meanwhile, a spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit received several phone calls from counterparts in the US, Canada, Australia and Europe, to inquire about the latest developments in Egypt. Aboul Gheit responded by saying the situation is getting better due to high-level channels of communication between the government, opposition and popular groups, according to the spokesperson. The minister told his counterparts that Egyptians reject foreign intervention and demanded that foreign officials abandon their commanding tones. Urging them to carefully consider their statements before issuing them, Aboul Gheit said that the suggestion of starting an immediate transitional phase reflects an ignorance of the situation and the country's Constitution.
