Senator John Kerry Meets With Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood in Cairo

CAIRO – Sen. John Kerry has met in Cairo with members of Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood, the Islamist group that's set to dominate the new parliament.

In a statement, the Muslim Brotherhood says three of its top officials attended the meeting with the Massachusetts Democrat, who was accompanied by U.S. Ambassador Anne Patterson.

Brotherhood officials vowed to respect civil rights and international treaties that have been signed in the past. That assurance could be an attempt to calm fears that the group may try to re-examine Egypt's peace treaty with Israel.

The group says Kerry told the Brotherhood's members that he's not surprised by their success in parliamentary elections.

The elections were the first since President Hosni Mubarak was ousted.

Kerry, who is also chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, was among the first U.S. politicians to call on Mubarak to step down earlier this year.