US Senators in Cairo to help bid for Egyptian reconciliation

Senators John McCain and Lindsey Graham arrive in Cairo Monday night. They will back up the efforts of US Deputy Secretary of State William Burns, United Arab Emirates Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed and, his Qatari counterpart Khalid Al-Attiyah who have prolonged their stay in Cairo for meetings to broker a reconciliation in the Egyptian crisis. Burns along with European Union envoy Bernadino León met army chief General Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi on Sunday. They are hoping to fend off military plans to break up two mass sit-ins by loyalists of deposed president Mohamed Morsi in the capital. A government helicopter dropped leaflets urging people to leave before security forces move in.

Aug. 25 is the date set for the trial of Muslim Brotherhood's Mohamed Badie and six other leaders including his deputy, Kairat al-Shater on charges of murder and plotting violence.