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Musharraf arrives in Cairo

CAIRO: Pakistan's military ruler General Pervez Musharraf arrived in Cairo on Saturday and was met by Egyptian Prime Minister Atef Obeid, airport sources said.

Musharraf was due to hold talks with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak on Saturday and Sunday on bilateral relations, peace and security issues, especially relations between India and Pakistan, and the question of Kashmir, foreign ministry sources said.

They are also expected to discuss a summit of Third World leaders which Musharraf attended this week in Havana.

Musharraf, accompanied on his visit by Pakistani Foreign Minister Abdul Sattar, is scheduled to meet Sheikh Mohamed Sayyed Tantawi, Grand Sheikh of Al Azhar, Egypt's highest Islamic institution, on Sunday.

Musharraf said in an interview with the Al Ahram daily that Pakistan and Egypt face similar social and economic problems. "Now they have common political interests, which means they should promote bilateral relations, and I think the future of the relationship between the two countries is bright," he said.-Reuters