Egyptians hopeful after Obama re-election

Egyptians on Wednesday woke to headlines that U.S. President Barack Obama had won the presidential election, securing a second term.

Despite disappointment over promises of a new U.S. approach towards the Middle East, Obama is widely favoured over his rival Mitt Romney, who was seen as too close to Israel and too keen to project U.S. military might.

In Cairo's iconic Tahrir Square, this man said that Obama was a much better choice than Romney.

But another expressed the widely-held belief that any American president will be beholden to Israeli interests in the region.

Much of the Middle East has changed dramatically during Obama's first term.

Some Egyptian activists have criticised Obama's administration for being slow too embrace the changes in the region, particularly at the start of the anti-Mubarak uprising in Egypt.

But Egyptian student Mohamed Gamal said he didn't want to see another Republican presidency.

(SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) STUDENT, MOHAMED GAMAL, SAYING:

"As far as I'm concerned, Obama was better because during the last four years, he didn't start any wars. And it's good that Romney and his Republican party didn't come to power."

Expectations for Obama's first term in office were particularly high in Egypt - but that hope has now turned to scepticism.

Obama now four more years to deliver his pledge to turn a new page in Arab-American relations.