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US senators John McCain and Lindsey Graham have joined top diplomats in Cairo to help find a peaceful solution to Egypt's political stalemate, BBC reported. 

The Pentagon said Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel had called army chief Gen Abdul Fattah al-Sisi to discuss mediation progress by US and EU envoys.

US Deputy Secretary of State William Burns also visited Muslim Brotherhood deputy head Khairat al-Shater in jail.

Egypt has been in crisis since the army ousted leader Mohammed Morsi on 3 July.

Mr Morsi, a Brotherhood member, has been formally remanded in custody at an undisclosed location, according to a judicial order.

Thousands are taking part in protests in Cairo demanding that the deposed president be reinstated.

Mr McCain and Mr Graham arrived in the Egyptian capital on Monday evening for two days of negotiations.

Several prominent Brotherhood figures were arrested in a crackdown on the Islamist movement following Mr Morsi's removal, including Brotherhood leader Mohammed Badie and Mr Shater.

The US state department said a delegation led by Mr Burns had visited Mr Shater to "prevent further violence, calm tensions and facilitate an inclusive dialogue to help the transition to a democratically elected civilian government".

However, Mr Shater cut the visit short, saying they should instead meet Mohammed Morsi.

According to Brotherhood spokesman Gehad al-Haddad, Mr Shater told the US delegation that he was in "no position to speak" and that they should direct their questions to Mr Morsi.

He told the diplomats that Mr Morsi held the key to solving the crisis and that there was no alternative to constitutional legitimacy, according to statements on Mr Haddad's Twitter feed.