Egypt's Defence Minister Abdel Fattah al-Sisi met on Thursday with European Union Foreign Policy Chief Catherine Ashton during her almost week-long visit to Cairo, in which she aims to discuss the latest political developments in Egypt with all political factions.

Ashton, who arrived in Cairo on Tuesday, has met with Head of the committee currently drafting Egypt's constitution, Amr Moussa, Deputy Prime Minister Ziad Bahaa el-Din and Muslim Brotherhood representatives.

She also met with interim President Adli Mansour, the Sheikh of Al-Azhar Ahmed al-Tayyeb, Pope Tawadros and a delegation of ultraconservative Salafist Nour Party.

The top European diplomat is in Cairo to encourage reconciliation between the Muslim Brotherhood and the government installed after the army ousted Islamist President Mohamed Mursi on July 3 following mass protests against his rule. 

Ashton visited Egypt in July and met with Mursi, who has been in held in an incommunicado detention at an undisclosed location, for two hours.