MIDEAST-CONFLICT-GAZA-EGYPT

Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak (R) shakes hands with Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni during a meeting 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