SHARM EL-SHEIKH: US Vice President Joe Biden on Monday called on Cairo to accept "more open" political competition as Egypt braces for key legislative and presidential elections.
Biden, who was in the Red Sea resort of Sharm El-Sheikh for talks with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, said the two had discussed ongoing political and economic reforms.
"Elements such as respect for human rights and the need to continue working for a more vibrant civil society and more open political competition are vital for Egypt to remain strong and serve as a model to the region," Biden said in a statement after the talks.
Egypt is to hold parliamentary elections later this year and presidential elections in 2011. Elections in 2005 were marred by allegations of irregularities and fraud.
Opposition and rights groups have also criticized the regime for failing to heed calls for constitutional amendments that would ease restrictions on who can run for president.
In May, Egypt’s parliament, which is dominated by Mubarak’s National Democratic Party, voted to extend the country’s decades-old emergency law for a further two years.
The controversial law, which gives police wide powers of arrest, suspends constitutional rights and curbs non-governmental political activity.
The United States criticized the extension and said it was "disappointed" by the move, prompting Cairo to describe the US reaction as "too politicized."
The state of emergency was imposed in 1981 after the assassination of President Anwar Sadat and has since been repeatedly renewed.
