Panetta meets Mursi

ROUGH CUT (NO REPORTER NARRATION)

STORY: U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta arrived in Cairo on Tuesday and met with Egypt's new President Mohamed Mursi, as well as its top general, to discuss the country's security and transition to democracy.

The visit was Panetta's first opportunity to speak with Mursi of the long-banned Muslim Brotherhood.

Political uncertainty is casting a shadow over Egypt's future as the military and the Muslim Brotherhood engage in a power struggle over the future of a country that remains without a permanent constitution, parliament or government.

Panetta told reporters at the start of his week-long trip to North Africa and the Middle East that he would urge Egypt's government "to provide for as broad a coalition as possible within the government".

Speaking after meeting Mohamed Mursi, the president, in Cairo for the first time as well as Field Marshal Hussein Tantawi, Egypt's top general, Panetta said he had used his meeting with Mursi to discuss issues such as border security and the threat from violent extremism.

"I was convinced that President Mursi is his own man and that he is the President of all the Egyptian people and that he is truly committed to implementing democratic reforms here in Egypt," said Panetta.