"Egypt and Germany stressed the need for a peaceful solution to the Iraqi issue and commitment by all parties to international legitimate resolutions, especially UN Security Council resolution 1441," Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Maher said.

Speaking at a joint press conference with his German counterpart Joschka Fischer after their talks, Maher said he agreed with Fischer on the need to exert utmost efforts to seek a peaceful way out of the standoff.

"Egypt is not interested in the change of the Iraqi regime, but in the implementation of Security Council resolutions and a peaceful solution to the crisis," Maher said.

Fischer, who arrived here earlier in the day, will be received by Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak on Saturday, Egypt's official MENA news agency reported on Friday.

Fischer is currently on a Mideast regional tour in a last-ditch diplomatic efforts to avoid a war on Iraq. He has already visited Turkey and will also travel to Jordan and Saudi Arabia.

(People’s Day January 25, 2003)