U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton stressed the importance of protecting the rights of all Egyptians, including women and religious minorities, during her visit to Cairo Sunday.

Ahead of a meeting with women, business, and civil society leaders, Clinton said the United States believes “a strong, durable democracy that respects the rule of law and protects the rights of all is the best way forward for Egypt.”

Earlier Sunday, she met with Egypt's top military commander Field Marshal Mohamed Hussein Tantawi.

The secretary met on Saturday with newly-inaugurated President Mohamed Morsi, an Islamist who has uneasy relations with the military.