Cheney meets Egyptian President Mubarak

US vice president Dick Cheney met Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak today, the first meeting in the US official’s rescheduled Middle East visit to discuss the situation in Iraq and escalating stand-offs with Syria and Iran.

It was not immediately clear if the two would speak after their meeting.

Cheney had to cancel planned Egyptian and Saudi Arabia stops on a trip to the region late last year to rush back to Washington for a congressional vote.

Cheney is expected in Saudi Arabia later today for talks with King Abdullah.

Cheney is also to stop in Kuwait tomorrow to pay his respects after the death of the country’s emir, Sheikh Jaber Al Ahmed Al Sabah, at the weekend.