Blumenthal travels to Egypt, meets with Morsi

AP Modified

Updated: Jan 16, 2013 4:57 PM

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — Connecticut Sen. Richard Blumenthal is in Egypt with a bipartisan delegation led by Arizona Sen. John McCain.

On Wednesday, Blumenthal and the other senators met with Islamist president Mohammed Morsi, the prime minister, foreign minister, defense minister, opposition leaders and others.

Blumenthal said he and other members of the group expressed "strong disapproval" about negative comments Morsi made about Jews during a speech in 2010. He said the group also urged Egyptian officials to amend their country's constitution so there will be free and fair elections, and to address the deteriorating security situation in Sinai.

Earlier in the day, Blumenthal said the senators met with top Syrian opposition leaders and promised to request more humanitarian assistance from the U.S.

Blumenthal is scheduled to return from the Middle East on Sunday.

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