Cairo  - EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana arrived in Cairo on Monday night for talks with Egyptian President Hosny Mubarak scheduled for Tuesday morning.

Solana's visit to the region is "part of the European Union's efforts to consolidate a lasting ceasefire, facilitate humanitarian relief for the victims in Gaza and re-launch the peace process," Solana's office said in a statement.

Brussels - European Union warships will be allowed to shoot at pirates caught hijacking commercial vessels off the coast of Somalia, EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana said Monday.

Solana was speaking after EU foreign ministers in Brussels formally endorsed the bloc's "Atalanta" mission, which starts Tuesday.

Brussels, Dec 2 : EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana has urged Pakistan to help Indian authorities investigate the terrorist attacks that killed 195 people in Mumbai.

Solana spoke to Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi and his Indian counterpart Pranab Mukherjee following the devastating militant attacks in Mumbai, The News reports.

India on Monday formally accused “elements” in Pakistan of being behind the attacks.

In his conversation with Mukherjee, Solana reiterated his condolences to the Indian government, and “underlined the EU’s readiness to cooperate with India to combat terrorism,” his office said.

Brussels - The European Union wants to see Russian troops move out of Georgia "today," Javier Solana, the bloc's foreign policy chief, said in Brussels on Tuesday.

"Some troops are beginning to move ... and I hope very much that within the day, the troops will begin seriously to withdraw," said Solana.

The EU high representative was speaking as NATO ministers met at the alliance's headquarters in Brussels and ahead of talks with US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner.