US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice arrives in Egypt on Monday for talks with President Hosni Mubarak that are expected to focus on political reform.

Her visit is part of a regional tour partly aimed at encouraging democratic change in the Middle East.

She said earlier that she hopes Egypt allows international monitors to watch its presidential election in September.

Ms Rice will meet Mr Mubarak in the Sinai resort of Sharm al-Sheikh before flying to Cairo for a policy speech.

She is also expected to meet civil society representatives in the Egyptian capital.

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The US has been publicly urging Egypt to adopt democratic reforms and Ms Rice's visit is likely to add to the pressure.

Ms Rice praised as a positive development the decision by Mr Mubarak to allow presidential elections with more than one candidate.

But she also said other steps would follow.

She said the Egyptian government should recognize that many people will be watching the election and looking to see if all candidates have access to the state-owned media.

Distress in Washington

Analysts say the new US emphasis on reform in the Middle East has made it possible for opposition movements in the region to act more boldly.

In Egypt, the independent press has become openly critical of the president and a new movement has emerged calling on him to relinquish power.

But even so, the Egyptian opposition continues to distress Washington.

Many cite US support for Israel and its invasion of Iraq as reasons to be on guard.

They are also afraid that close contact with the US could be used against them to tar them with the all-too-frequent accusation of being US agents.