Mubarak handed over power to the Egyptian army on February 11 after an 18-day popular uprising, with Washington now facing huge challenges in a potentially volatile power shift in Cairo that could have repercussions for US policy across the Middle East.

Admiral Mike Mullen, chairman of the US military's Joint Chiefs of Staff, will arrive in Jordan on February 13 for talks with his military counterpart and with Jordan's King Abdullah.

It comes just days after Abdullah swore in a new government led by a former general who has promised to widen public freedoms in response to anti-government protests sweeping the region.

Mullen will continue to Israel, where Egypt's turmoil has raised fears of potential Islamic radicalization that could threaten Cairo's peace agreement with Israel.

He is due to meet Israeli President Benjamin Netanyahu, President Shimon Peres and the outgoing head of the armed forces, Lieutenant-General Gabi Ashkenazi before returning to Washington.

Israel's Defense Minister Ehud Barak met top US officials in Washington this week. He told US television that the world should encourage change in Egypt but give the country enough time to prevent it from falling into the hands of extremists.