Washington:
President Barack Obama has called Egypt's new president to congratulate him on his inauguration and convey his commitment to working together.
The White House says Obama and President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi spoke today. El-Sissi, Egypt's former army chief, won a landslide victory last month.
At the time, the White House said it had concerns about the "restrictive political environment" in which the election took place. As army chief, el-Sissi ousted Egypt's first democratically elected president last summer.
The White House says Obama reiterated in his call with el-Sissi the United States' support for the political, economic and social aspirations of the Egyptian people and the respect of their universal rights.