Egyptian authorities told the European Union foreign policy chief they would rather not have international visitors this month because of their "heavily loaded" agenda, an EU diplomat said Wednesday, dpa reported.
An EU summit statement on Friday mentioned foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton's "forthcoming visit" to Tunisia and Egypt - the countries most affected by the pro-democracy movement that has swept North Africa and the Middle East in recent weeks.
"Egyptian authorities indicated that they wish to have no foreign visits during the month of February due to a domestic agenda which is already heavily loaded," the source said.
The EU diplomat said Ashton is still expected to make the trip to Tunisia next week.
After more than two weeks of unprecedented protests calling for Egyptian President Hosny Mubarak to step down, Vice President Omar Suleiman has embarked on a tentative dialogue with opposition groups ahead of planned elections in September.
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