by Christophe de Roquefeuil
CAIRO, July 28 (AFP) - US Secretary of State Colin Powell was due to seek Cairo's support for tough measures to resolve the Darfur crisis in neighbouring Sudan during talks with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak on Wednesday.
Powell, who arrived here late Tuesday on the first stop of a Middle East tour, was also expected to seek Egypt's help in pushing for Palestinian reform during talks with the president, as well as Egypt's newly-appointed Prime Minister Ahmed Nazif and Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul Gheit.
Washington is spearheading efforts at the United Nations Security Council to obtain action from Khartoum over the crisis in Darfur, while Cairo argues that sanctions against the Sudan could prove counterproductive.
The Darfur conflict erupted following an uprising in February last year by two rebel groups in the region in the west of the huge oil-rich state.
The death toll is now as high as 50,000, according to United Nations officials, and 1.2 million people have been forced from their homes
The United States on Tuesday lodged a draft resolution with the UN Security Council, calling for sanctions against the Sudanese government unless it takes firm steps to resolve the situation.
In particular, Khartoum is under pressure to disarm the government-backed Janjaweed militias, who have been accused by rights and aid agencies of conducting a brutal campaign of ethnic cleansing.
Washington hopes for a vote on the resolution to take place by the end of the week, while Cairo has asked for more time in order to allow the Sudanese government to follow through on a pledge to resolve the crisis internally.
Powell has sought to reassure Cairo, saying it was still early to discuss international military action, and that the draft Security Council resolution gives Khartoum 30 days to comply before sanctions take effect.
Washington is also looking to Cairo for help in persuading the Palestinians to introduce key reforms as they prepare to assume responsibilities in the Gaza Strip after a planned Israeli withdrawal from the territory.
Egypt is a major regional powerbroker which has tried to mediate in the conflict.
"I want to hear what their assessment is of the prospects for the Palestinians putting in place the necessary political structure and security structure to take over Gaza when the disengagement happens," Powell told reporters upon his arrival in Cairo.
Egypt has offered to help veteran leader Yasser Arafat's Palestinian Authority control the situation in the neighbouring territory after any Israeli pullout.
"I will also talk with the Egyptians about how they are working with the Palestinians and others to help the Palestinians develop a security force that will be up to the task of managing Gaza," he said.
Egypt has offered to send up to 200 experts to Gaza to train Palestinian security forces and prepare them to assume control after the pullout.
The Egyptian initiative partly calls for the unification of the various Palestinian security services and ending ambiguities over their command.
The US is counting on strong support from Egypt to push through tangible Palestinian reforms and give prime minister Ahmed Qorei wider powers.
Egypt has already called on Arafat to delegate more power to prime minister Ahmed Qorei, so that he can exercise more authority, especially over the security situation.
Qorei, who tried to quit earlier this month, agreed to remain prime minister Tuesday after Arafat agreed to implement reforms and crack down on corruption.
Iraq also featured prominently on the agenda of Powell's meeting with Egyptian leaders, with the US secretary of state to urge Egypt, an important regional player, to help the new interim Iraqi government as much as possible.
Powell was scheduled to meet with Egyptian business and civil society leaders as part of US efforts to promote economic and political reforms in the country.
The US secretary of state was scheduled to leave Cairo later Wednesday for Saudi Arabia for talks with Saudi leaders and a meeting with Iraq's caretaker prime minister Iyad Allawi. From Saudi Arabia, Powell is to fly to Kuwait, before continuing to Bosnia and Poland.