CAIRO: President Hosni Mubarak has made his first televised appearance since the death of his beloved grandson and the cancellation of his US trip.
State TV aired brief footage Sunday of President Hosni Mubarak meeting with top ministers, including his foreign minister and intelligence chief who will be visiting the US in his stead.
The meeting represents the first time Mubarak has been shown since the death of his grandson Mohamed a week earlier on May 17. Mubarak did not attend the funeral or the wake.
Egypt’s state news agency says that the country’s foreign minister, trade minister and intelligence chief will travel to the United States to meet with President Obama in the Egyptian leader’s stead.
Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit, Trade and Industry Minister Rachid Mohamed Rachid and intelligence head Omar Suleiman met with President Mubarak Sunday to receive instructions for their upcoming visit, said Saturday’s report.
The meeting with Obama is expected to focus on Egypt’s role in the Middle East peace process.
Mubarak canceled his May 26 visit to the United States after his 12-year-old grandson died on Monday after what the presidency called a “health crisis lasting two days.
The White House spokesman said Obama and Mubarak will instead meet next month when the US president visits Egypt. -AP
