by Wael Naguib, Xinhua writer Chen Gongzheng

    CAIRO, June 2 (Xinhua) -- Beside the landmark Conference Hall of Cairo University, where Obama is scheduled to deliver his speech to the Muslim world on June 4, sat three students who were cramming for their coming exams and talking about Obama's visit to Egypt.

    "I want to invite Barack Obama for a fish meal at my home near Kanater(in north Cairo)," said Ahmed Darwish, an 18-year-old student at the faculty of law.

    Inaugurated in 1935, 27 years after Cairo University's establishment, the Conference Hall is famous for its huge half ball dome which touches as high as 52 meters. In the hall, which covers an area of 3,160 square meters, there are 1,099 seats on two floors, including 148 seats with built-in translation sets.

    Obama will be the second U.S. president to deliver a speech in Cairo University after Theodore Roosevelt in 1910.

    High atop the hall, several workers were busy changing the pipes of the air conditioners amid the dazzling sunshine of the north African country. The facade of the building had been cleaned and repainted for the guests, flowers were put in front of the hall's doors while the university's fence is washed daily.

    Several limousines with green diplomatic number plates, were parked on the newly asphalted square in front of the main gate of the hall.

    When asked about their expectations about the speech, students of the university said that Obama will talk about the peace process in the Middle East, which was marred by Israel's intransigence.

    "The United States and Israel have some differences now, But I don't think there will be anything new in U.S. interests, Israel-U.S. relations will not change," said Said Samaa Hani, an 19-year-old student at faculty of mass communication.

    "Generally speaking, we hate U.S. policies in the past few years, you know, what Bush did in Iraq, in Palestine," Samaa added.

    Egypt's President Hosni Mubarak has not visited United States, its key Western ally, for more than five years, due to U.S. policies on Iraq and Israeli-Palestinian conflicts in Bush era.

    Additional security measures were taken around the campus as Egypt's special guards are now in charge of the university, according to an officer at the main gate, who refused journalists to enter.

    "Our exams on June 4 was postponed," Samaa said.

    The Egyptian government has welcomed U.S. President Barack Obama's decision to address his message to the Islamic world from Cairo, saying that the speech would represent an important turning point in U.S. relations with Islamic world.

    "When Netanyahu visited United States, Obama tried to persuade him to accept the two-state solution but the hawkish Israeli prime minister refused," said Khaled Hamedm an 18-year-old student at faculty of law.

    As the diplomats were shuttling between the major players, prime-time TV news and leading newspapers, particularly in Israel, were reporting on the gaps between the Obama and Netanyahu administrations on a wide range of issues. The crux of the differences is seemingly the pace at which Obama's team wants to push forward the Palestinian-Israeli peace process.

    When asked about Obama's choice of Cairo University, "I hope Obama can deliver his speech at Cairo International Stadium or in public places, so more people can attend the meeting," said Ahmed Adel, an 18-year-old student.

    Though Obama's visit was highly welcomed in the school, only limited number of students would be chosen to attend the speech.

    "The administration of the university will choose just 15 students from the Student Union," said Mohamed Ahmed, 19, from the faculty of mass communication.

    Anyway, choosing Cairo University to be the place where Obama delivers his speech is a promotion for the university, which is ranked second in Egypt and tenth in Africa. "I am proud to graduate from such a university," said Samaa.

    "Moreover, I think it will be a global promotion for Cairo University. When I apply for a job in foreign news agencies after graduation, it will be easier for me to get the opportunity," Mohamed added.

    "He is handsome, I want to see him face-to-face and shake his hands, If I can't go to the Conference Hall, I will watch his speech on TV," said Samaa excitedly.