William Burns on second Cairo visit

US Undersecretary of State for the Middle East William Burns is due in Cairo Friday night on his second visit to the Egyptian capital since the July 3 military coup. An Egyptian official said he would meet interim foreign minister Nabil Fahmy Saturday. 

DEBKAfile: Burns’s return visit points up the deepening crisis in relations between the Obama administration and Egypt’s military rulers, especially defense minister Gen. Abdlel-Fattah El-Sisi, who will be running for president. Secretary of State John Kerry tried to correct earlier controversial remarks and strike a balance by calling on all parties – pro-Morsi supporters and the military – “to be inclusive and work toward a peaceful resolution.”  He stressed that the US did not take sides and was willing to help reach a solution of the crisis.