Clinton Says U.S. Resuming 'Limited Contact' With Muslim Brotherhood

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has said the United States is resuming "limited contact" with Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood.

Clinton, speaking during a visit to Hungary, said it was in Washington's interests to deal with parties committed to nonviolent political activity.

The move is seen as a subtle shift in U.S. policy which is all but certain to upset Israel and its U.S. supporters who have deep misgivings about the Islamist group.

In Cairo, the Muslim Brotherhood said it welcomed any formal contacts with the United States but that no such contacts had been made.

In Budapest, Clinton also called for solidarity with pro-democracy activists in Belarus, Libya, and elsewhere.

She was speaking at the inauguration of a human rights institute in Budapest honoring the late Hungarian-American Congressman Tom Lantos.

compiled from agency reports