Two top US senators recommended to Field Marshal Hussein Tantawi, head of Egypt’s Supreme Council of the Armed Forces, that Egypt bring international observers to oversee the upcoming elections.

Senators John McCain and John Kerry met with Tantawi, Prime Minister Sharaf as well as other top officials on Sunday during their 2-day visit to Egypt. They lead a high-level delegation of elected officials and business leaders, including chief executives of major US companies, such as General Electric.

Senator McCain recommended more involvement of nongovernmental organisations in the elections process; mainly in organisational, party and voter identification issues.

McCain said that Tantawi assured him of the army’s commitment to hand over Egypt’s rule to an elected civilian government “at the earliest possible time” after the elections.

For his part, Senator John Kerry expressed that his impression after meeting with the marshal that the army is “very anxious” to stop governing and return to the barracks. He also expressed deep admiration for the role the Egyptian army played in the Egypt’s revolution. “They [army] have listened to the people and they know they have a responsibility to live up to that.”