Cairo - Egyptian President Hosny Mubarak on Saturday rejected proposals to base on its territory foreign observers to monitor the Gaza Strip, but said his country itslef would instead secure its border with the salient.

"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.

Reiterating onging Israeli attacks on Gaza would "not end the resistance (movement of Hamas)," Mubarak in nationally televised address called for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and a withdrawal of Israeli troops from the salient.

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

Meanwhile, diplomatic sources told Deutsche Presse-Agentur dpa on condition of anonymity that Mubarak had proposed a new Middle East summit on Gaza to be held Sunday in the resort of Sharm el-Sheikh. Invitations were sent to EU representatives as well as UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon.

Mubarak's comments came as Czech Foreign Minister Karel Schwarzenberg was holding talks in Cairo with Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit to discuss efforts to achieve a ceasefire.

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

Following his meeting with Aboul Gheit, Schwarzenberg said discussions tackled "post ceasefire plans which include rebuilding Gaza."

Aboul Gheit said an Egyptian-EU meeting will take place by the end of this month in Brussels "to discuss the post ceasefire plans with the 27 EU foreign ministers."

The Israeli security cabinet is expected to vote on a ceasefire proposal, as the military campaign has entered its fourth week.

Schwarzenberg interrupted a trip as part of an EU meeting in South Africa to fly to Cairo, the Egyptian Foreign Ministry said. An EU delegation led by Schwarzenberg travelled to the Middle East at the beginning of January in an attempt to stop the fighting in the Gaza Strip. (dpa)