Ready to run

At the El Basatine clinic here, she held a news conference to take questions on the Senate speculation in an effort to keep American politics from dominating her 12-day tour of Egypt, Morocco and Tunisia.

She said she has spent the last month speaking with friends, advisers and political consultants on her chances in a bid for the seat of retiring Democratic US Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan of New York. 8220;I will continue that when I return home,8221; she said. But she told the clinic audience of physicians and nurses that 8220;right now I want to focus on the issues that arereally at the base of this very important partnership and friendship between the United States and Egypt.8221;