CAIRO: Prominent U.S. Congressmen John McCain and Joseph Lieberman met with the Supreme Council of Armed Forces, Prime Minister Ahmed Shafiq and Arab League Secretary-General Amr Moussa to discuss developments in Egypt and ways to support Egypt after the January 25 Revolution in a two-day visit that started Saturday. They also discussed the situation in Libya. McCain was one of the Congressmen who called on the former president Hosni Mubarak to step down during the massive protests that led to his ouster, and said that it would be the best option for him and the Egyptian people. The U.S. Senators took a tour in Tahrir Square, which was the center of the massive protests during the 18-day uprising, accompanied by the U.S. Ambassador to Cairo, Margaret Scobey, on Sunday. McCain and Lieberman met with several citizens and military police in the square, and local media outlets said that Lieberman wrapped himself with an Egyptian flag. McCain told MENA, Egypt's state-run news agency, that their visit to Tahrir Square is a desire to show their support for the Egyptian people who fought hard for their freedom, adding that the U.S. will do its best to assist the people in their struggle for freedom. He added that the US will support Egypt, but Egyptians will ultimately determine their future. Lieberman said that the sun is shining now in Cairo, but that the light of freedom is there because of the Egyptian people's peaceful revolution. McCain also said the Egyptian Revolution proved that change in the region is possible without extremism. The French News Agency quoted him as saying, “this revolution is a repudiation of Al-Qaeda,” following talks with Arab League chief Amr Mussa. The Arizona Senator told reporters, “This revolution has shown the people of the world, not just in the Arab world, that peaceful change can come about and violence and extremism is not required in order to achieve democracy and freedom.” McCain and Connecticut counterpart Joseph Lieberman are the first members of the U.S. congress to visit Egypt after Mubarak resigned on February 11. BM
