MIDEAST-CONFLICT-GAZA-EGYPT

Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni gestures during a meeting with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak (not seen) in Cairo on December 25, 2008. Livni arrived in Egypt today for talks on the situation around Gaza, where escalating violence has dimmed prospects of a new truce. Livni's visit comes after Israel and Hamas, the Islamist group that controls the besieged Palestinian enclave, exchanged military strikes and warnings of more to come. Egypt had mediated a six-month ceasefire which went into effect in June but expired six days ago. AFP PHOTO/KHALED DESOUKI