In a surprise move, Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak called Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and congratulated him on his election victory. A year ago, Mubarak declared he could not work with Sharon; the two have not met since Sharon took office. Sharon told U.S. President George W. Bush that he would continue to work towards implementing their joint diplomatic plan, but rebuffed an offer for talks with Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat. According to the Prime Minister’s Office, Mubarak called Sharon Wednesday morning and invited him for talks as soon as he established a new government. The two “discussed the need to continue the peace process in the Middle East,” an official statement said. Full Story