Obama visits the pyramids

Jun 4 - U.S. President Barack Obama takes a tour of the Great Pyramids of Giza hours after delivering a key-note speech at Cairo University.

The choice of Cairo for the speech underscored Obama's focus on the Middle East, where he faces huge foreign policy challenges, from trying to restart the Israeli-Palestinian peace process to curbing Iran's nuclear program.

Obama pledged to pursue Palestinian statehood, said U.S. troops did not want to stay in Iraq or Afghanistan forever and offered mutual respect in dealings with long-time foe, Tehran.

Following the speech, Egyptian security forces mounted a huge security operation so that Obama could tour the pyramids and enigmatic sphinx.