The misery in Syria will not repeat itself in Egypt, US Deputy Secretary of State William Burns said Monday in Cairo, while calling for an end to the violence and the start of talks between rival factions, dpa reported.
Burns is the first US official to visit the Egyptian capital since the army overthrew former president Mohammed Morsi.
There are mounting concerns that the country could slide into a Syria-like civil war as it remains polarized between the Islamist supporters of Morsi and their opponents who backed his ouster.
The high-level US diplomat held talks with interim president Adli Mansour and Defence Minister Abdel Fattah al-Sissi, the architect of Morsi's ouster. Both Salafist and secular groups refused to meet with him.
Speaking to reporters after the meetings, Burns said that the United States does not favour certain figures in Egypt but remained on the side of the Egyptian people.
He stressed Washington's commitment to help Egypt achieve democracy.
Burns also met with prime minister designate Hazem Beblawy, who is expected to announce a transitional cabinet this week.
Army chief al-Sissi and Burns discussed political developments and ways to improve cooperation between the countries, the army spokesman said in a brief statement.
Al-Sissi announced a presidential handover on July 3, after millions took to the streets across Egypt demanding the Islamist president's removal from power.
The army chief has defended his decision to depose Morsi, Egypt's first democratically elected president, saying the military heeded the will of the people.
The biggest Islamist party that backed Morsi's ouster, the Salafist al-Nour party, refused to meet with Burns, without giving a reason, al-Ahram reported.