The U.N.'s former nuclear chief has yet to return home to his native Egypt after almost a quarter century monitoring the world's atomic programs, but the 2005 Nobel Peace Prize winner has already created the biggest political stir in his homeland in years by hinting at a new career in politics.

President Barack Obama is trying to restore Egypt's President Hosni Mubarak as the US ace-in-the-hole in its decades-long effort to forge an elusive peace among Israel and the Arabs.

Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak is set to meet Monday with key US government officials, including Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, ahead of his first White House visit in five years.

Egypt's Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul Gheit met officials from Darfur rebel groups on Saturday to push for peace talks between them and the Sudanese government, the state news agency MENA reported.

Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak on Tuesday held talks with his Israeli counterpart Shimon Peres to accelerate the vexed Middle East peace process, even as the visiting leader was assured that a Jewish soldier captured by Gaza militants will be released soon.