MIDEAST-CONFLICT-GAZA-EGYPT-ISRAEL

Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul Gheit (R) gestures during a joint press conference with his Israeli counterpart Tzipi Livni in Cairo on December 25, 2008. Livni, who arrived in Egypt today for talks on the situation around Gaza, vowed to end Hamas's control of the Gaza Strip after an escalation of violence in the Palestinian territory. Abul Gheit, whose government mediated a six-month truce that expired six days ago, called for restraint in the impoverished territory that has been ruled by Hamas since it routed its rival Fatah movement in June 2007. AFP PHOTO/KHALED DESOUKI