Cairo - Egyptian President Hosny Mubarak called on Saturday for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire in Gaza and a withdrawal of Israeli troops from the strip.

"I call on the (Israeli) leadership for an immediate unconditional ceasefire and a complete withdrawal of Israeli troops from the Strip," Mubarak said in an address on national television.

In an affirmative tone, Mubarak added that Egypt is securing its own border with the Gaza Strip and will never accept any foreign observers on its land.

"Egypt is exerting all efforts to secure its borders with Israel and the Gaza Strip. It will never accept the presence of foreign observers on its territory. This is a red line we will not allow to be crossed " Mubarak said.

His comments came as meanwhile Czech Foreign Minister Karel Schwarzenberg was holding talks in Cairo with Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit to discuss efforts to achieve a ceaseifre.

Schwarzenberg, whose country currently holds the rotating EU presidency, said the EU fully backed efforts for an immediate ceasefire in the strip. (dpa)