Egypt army will prevent Islamist state: US senator

Egypt's U.S.-backed army will prevent Islamists from ever controlling that country's government, a US Senator said Tuesday, stressing Americans must not be "ashamed" of backing that military.

"Every American should be very appreciative of the fact that for years we've been providing aid to the Egyptian army in terms of equipment and training, because that army is our ace in the hole, as a world, to make sure Egypt doesn't go into a radical state," said Republican Senator Lindsey Graham.

Asked whether he meant the army would step in should Egyptian voters pick an Islamist government, Graham replied: "It is my belief that the Egyptian army will protect the Egyptian people from becoming a radical Islamic state."

Egypt's U.S.-backed army will prevent Islamists from ever controlling that country's government, a US Senator said Tuesday, stressing Americans must not be "ashamed" of backing that military.

"Every American should be very appreciative of the fact that for years we've been providing aid to the Egyptian army in terms of equipment and training, because that army is our ace in the hole, as a world, to make sure Egypt doesn't go into a radical state," said Republican Senator Lindsey Graham.

Asked whether he meant the army would step in should Egyptian voters pick an Islamist government, Graham replied: "It is my belief that the Egyptian army will protect the Egyptian people from becoming a radical Islamic state."

Every American should be very appreciative of the fact that for years we've been providing aid to the Egyptian army in terms of equipment and training, because that army is our ace in the hole, as a world, to make sure Egypt doesn't go into a radical state

Republican Senator Lindsey Graham.

"Urgently" heed protesters

British Prime Minister David Cameron said Tuesday the Egyptian government must "urgently" heed protesters pushing for reform amid the biggest rallies yet against President Hosni Mubarak.

Cameron said he had spoken to new Egyptian Prime Minister Ahmed Shafiq and to King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia, and confirmed that the British ambassador to Cairo had been in contact with Egyptian opposition figure Mohammed ElBaradei.

"In his calls, the prime minister welcomed the restraint the Egyptian army had shown today and emphasized the importance of allowing the protests to take place peacefully," the premier's Downing Street office said in a statement.

"The prime minister also made very clear that the Egyptian government must now urgently listen to the aspirations of its people.

"The prime minister called for an orderly transition to a broad-based government, including opposition figures."

It added: "In addition the British ambassador in Cairo, Dominic Asquith, has had a range contacts on the ground today with both government and opposition figures, including Mohammed ElBaradei, in which he has set out this approach."

Foreign Secretary William Hague earlier criticized Mubarak's announcement of a new cabinet on Monday in which widely hated interior minister Habib al-Adly and the finance and culture ministers were axed.

"I don't think they've taken a big enough step towards resolving this crisis," Hague told the BBC.

"I don't think it's changed enough, unfortunately. This is not the broad-based government that we have called for, that our European Union partners yesterday joined us in calling for," said Hague.

Cameron's spokesman earlier described the reshuffle as "disappointing".

In his calls, the prime minister welcomed the restraint the Egyptian army had shown today and emphasized the importance of allowing the protests to take place peacefully

Statement from Downing Street 10

Turkey tells Mubarak to listen

Earlier on Tuesday, Turkey's Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan said Mubarak should heed his people's desire for change, piling pressure on Mubarak to end his 30-year rule.

Erdogan stopped short of explicitly calling for Mubarak's resignation but urged the Egyptian leader to ponder his legacy.

"Mr. Hosni Mubarak: I want to make a very sincere recommendation, a very candid warning... All of us will die and will be questioned over what we left behind," Erdogan said in a speech to members of his ruling AK Party in Ankara.

"As Muslims, where we all go is a two cubic meter hole," he said. The speech was broadcast live by some Arabic-language channels.

"Listen to the shouting of the people, the extremely humane demands. Without hesitation, satisfy the people's desire for change," Erdogan said.

Erdogan, whose country is held up as a model in the West for democracy in Muslim nations and has seen its influence rise in recent years in the Middle East, went on to say the solution to political problems lay in elections.

"If there is a problem, the place for solution is the ballot box," Erdogan said. The United States and other Western powers have also urged Mubarak to hold free elections.

Erdogan later said he was putting off a visit to Cairo planned for Feb 8-9, but would go once Egypt returns to normal.

Erdogan's condemnation of Israel for its policies towards Palestinians has turned him into a hero in the Arab street and analysts say non-Arab Turkey has become a rival to Egypt's once economic, political and cultural primacy in the Middle East.

Ankara, a close U.S. ally, has been watching the unrest rocking Egypt and Tunisia with concern about instability harming neighboring countries.

Underlying the importance the United States places on Turkey in the volatile region, Ankara has been in close contact with Washington over Egypt, which caught the United States off guard and left it facing a struggle to balance strategic interests.

Mr. Hosni Mubarak: I want to make a very sincere recommendation, a very candid warning... All of us will die and will be questioned over what we left behind

Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan