U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates arrived in Cairo on Wednesday to meet Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak on the latest developments in the Mideast region, local Nile TV television reported.

Gates is expected to meet and discuss with President Mubarak and his Egyptian counterpart Mohamed Hussein Tantawi on Iraqi situation, Iran's influence in the region, as well as bilateral relations, diplomatic sources confirmed.

Coming from Jordan, Gates was scheduled to arrive in Egypt on Tuesday, but his trip was delayed because the Cairo international airport was closed down for several hours due to a severe sandstorm.

Egypt was the second leg of Gates' regional tour, which will also take him to Israel, aimed at urging allies in the region to help bolster the fledgling Iraqi government and offset the Iran's growing influence.

Source: Xinhua