US Secretary of State John Kerry is pressing Egypt to allow greater political freedoms on the eve of a Cairo court ruling in the terrorism-related case of Australian Peter Greste and two journalist colleagues.
Kerry became the highest-ranking US official to meet President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi since he came to power earlier this month during a surprise visit on Sunday.
The top US diplomat's tour is also focused on trying to find a political solution in Iraq, where Islamic militants are making new gains in an offensive that has triggered international alarm.
"I emphasised also our strong support for upholding the universal rights and freedoms of all Egyptians including freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and association," Kerry said at a news conference, referring to his talks with Egyptian leaders including Sisi.
"We also discussed the essential role of a vibrant civil society, free press, rule of law and due process in a democracy."
Kerry's call for a free press in Egypt comes as a court on Monday is due to deliver its ruling in the trial of Greste and the two other Al-Jazeera journalists, and 17 other co-defendants.
They are accused of aiding the blacklisted Muslim Brotherhood of ousted president Mohamed Morsi.
Their trial, in which they are accused of "spreading false news" and links to the Brotherhood, has sparked an international outcry.
"Obviously this is a critical moment of transition in Egypt, enormous challenges," Kerry said in Cairo as he met new Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukri.
But he vowed that "the US is very interested in working closely" with the new government "in order to make this transition as rapidly and smoothly as possible".
Since Egypt's first freely elected leader Morsi was toppled by Sisi in July 2013, a government crackdown on his supporters has left more than 1400 people dead in street clashes and at least 15,000 jailed.
A US official told journalists travelling with Kerry "the Egyptian government needs to have a very politically inclusive approach, which means they need to include and ... reach out to the Muslim Brothers".
Kerry's visit comes a day after an Egyptian court confirmed death sentences for 183 Islamists, including Brotherhood chief Mohamed Badie, after a speedy mass trial.
US officials also revealed $US572 million ($A618.88 million) in aid, frozen since October, was released to Egypt about 10 days ago after a green light from Congress. It will mainly go to pay existing defence contracts.
US officials said in April they planned to resume some of the annual $US1.5 billion in mostly military aid to Cairo, including 10 Apache helicopter gunships for counterterrorism efforts in the Sinai Peninsula.
"The Apaches will come and they will come very, very soon," Kerry said minutes before he ended his trip.
Before flying to Amman, Kerry called on "Iraq's leaders to rise above sectarian considerations ... and speak to all people," and insisted Washington is not responsible for the current crisis roiling that country.
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