CONDOLEEZZA RICE, the US Secretary of State, delivered a blunt message to America’s closest ally in the Arab world yesterday, when she told Egypt it had to hold free and fair elections and stop intimidating pro-democracy activists.

In an important policy speech setting out the Bush Administration’s vision for the region, Dr Rice told an audience at the American University in Cairo that Washington would no longer tolerate oppression in the name of stability.

“For 60 years, my country, the United States, pursued stability at the expense of democracy in this region, here in the Middle East, and we achieved neither,” she said. “Now we are taking a different course. We are supporting the democratic aspirations of all people.”

To prove the point Dr Rice met eight opposition Egyptian figures during her visit, including Ayman Nour, an MP arrested this year by the authorities, who is now challenging President Mubarak for September’s planned elections.

Egypt has been a one-party state for more than a half a century. But for the past three decades it has also enjoyed close ties with Washington, including an annual aid package worth £1 billion.

President Bush made it clear in his State of the Union address in February that he expected the Arab world’s largest nation to set the democratic example for the region, where America has encouraged recent general elections this year in Iraq, Lebanon and Palestine.

Mr Mubarak responded three weeks later by announcing multicandidate presidential elections and other democratic reforms. Dr Rice told Egypt that there was no turning back. “President Mubarak has unlocked the door for change. But now, the Egyptian Government must put its faith in its own people,” she said.

“We are all concerned for the future of Egypt’s reforms when peaceful supporters of democracy — men and women — are not free from violence. The day must come when the rule of law replaces emergency decrees.”

She also called on the Egyptian authorities to ensure that the elections were “free and fair” and that “international election monitors and observers” be granted unrestricted access to the polls.

Ahmed Aboul Gheit, the Egyptian Foreign Minister, promised that Cairo would comply. “Who would object to fair and transparent elections?” he asked. “It will be so, I assure you.”

While many Egyptians are enthusiastic about the prospects for democratic change, Dr Rice was given a tepid reception by an audience of 700 Egyptians. America is blamed for causing chaos in Iraq, the failure to secure peace between Israel and the Palestinians and for abusing rights of Muslim detainees at Guantanamo Bay.

Kefaya (Enough), the main Opposition movement, refused to meet the visiting Secretary of State, insisting that it would not deal with the Bush Administration.

Dr Rice will now take her message to Saudi Arabia, America’s other key ally in the region, where she said three people had been arrested for daring to petition the Government for change.

“Brave citizens are demanding accountable government,” said Dr Rice. “Yet many people still pay an unfair price for exercising their basic rights.”

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