Report: Less U.S. influence in Egypt now

CAIRO, April 29 (UPI) -- Egypt's political revolution this year has led to a more independent foreign policy less in line with U.S. influence, The New York Times reported Friday.

For decades, ousted President Hosni Mubarak aligned his government and diplomatic policies with Washington on issues related to Iran, Israel and the Palestinian Hamas party, but that's changing, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Menha Bakhoum told the Times.

"We are opening a new page," she said. "Egypt is resuming its role that was once abdicated."

She said Egypt's new leadership was intent on shaking off the United States' regional policies and developing its own with regards to its neighbors.

"All the world has diplomatic relations with Iran with the exception of the United States and Israel," she said. "We look at Iran as a neighbor in the region that we should have normal relations with.

As for relations with Israel, Bakhoum said Egypt would honor the 1979 peace treaty but enforcement of the Gaza border blockade was "shameful" and that the border would be fully opened soon.