Biden presses Egypt's Suleiman for orderly transition

U.S. Vice President Joe Biden pressed his Egyptian counterpart Omar Suleiman on Tuesday for an orderly transition of power in Egypt that is "prompt, meaningful, peaceful and legitimate," the White House said.

Biden also called for the immediate lifting of Egypt's longstanding emergency law and reiterated the U.S. stance thatany future Egyptian government "be determined by the Egyptian people," the White House said.

U.S. chose to back a gradual transition towards democracy in Egypt and to support efforts by Suleiman, a Mubarak loyalist and former intelligence chief regarded with skepticism by many in Egypt's opposition.

Gates call for gradual transition

Defense Secretary Robert Gates says he hopes the uprisings in Egypt and Tunisia will prompt other governments in the region to address longstanding political and economic grievances of their people.

The problems of political repression and economic stagnation are common to several Mideast nations. Gates told Pentagon reporters Tuesday that the U.S. has often urged its friends there to address those problems.

"My hope would be that other governments in the region -- seeing this spontaneous action in both Tunisia and in Egypt -- will take measures to begin moving in a positive direction toward addressing the political and economic grievances of their people," he said.

Regarding Egypt, Gates repeated the Obama administration call for an orderly transition to a post-Mubarak presidency, one in which the current government keeps its promises of reform made in recent days.

He also said it was "critical" that Egypt's government fulfill its promises and move ahead with a democratic transition after days of mass street protests.

Gates, in his first public remarks on the unrest, told reporters the transition from President Hosni Mubarak's rule needed to be orderly but continue to "move forward."

Gates also criticized Suleiman’s statement that the Egyptian society is not ready for democracy, and that the country is not ready to be free from the emergency law imposed by Mubarak.

Gates said such announcements are “not positive”, and said Egypt’s next president is not of a U.S. decision.

State Department spokesman PJ Crowley said if Mubarak to leave office, then according to the constitution there should be elections within two years, and he questioned whether Egypt is ready for an open and fair election, and he said last election was rigged.

A former official on Middle East issues in the U.S. foreign ministry and the White House, Michel Den said that the U.S. is now seeing the Egyptian constitution as “holly” while it is the same constitution amended by Mubarak to assure his stay in power.

My hope would be that other governments in the region -- seeing this spontaneous action in both Tunisia and in Egypt -- will take measures to begin moving in a positive direction toward addressing the political and economic grievances of their people

Defense Secretary Robert Gates

Gates hails Egypt’s military

Gates praised Egypt's military on Tuesday for its restraint, underscoring Washington's push for an orderly transition as protests swelled anew against President Hosni Mubarak.

Egypt's military -- long the backbone of the government in Cairo -- had behaved in "an exemplary fashion" as it stood largely on the sidelines during the uprising against Mubarak's 30-year rule, Gates told a news conference.

“I would say that they have made a contribution to the evolution of democracy and what we're seeing in Egypt," he said as Egyptians staged one of their biggest protests yet demanding Mubarak step down immediately.

Mubarak's refusal to abandon his post has been a sticking point between protesters and the Obama administration, which has called for a swift political transition in Egypt but stopped short of openly advocating that its longtime ally resign.

The U.S. approach -- stressing long-term stability in a country regarded as a linchpin of U.S. Middle East policy -- has been criticized by opposition leaders in Egypt, and an influential group of U.S. analysts said Washington risks condoning "an inadequate and possibly fraudulent transition."

"The process that is unfolding now has many of the attributes of a smokescreen," the Working Group on Egypt said in letters this week to President Barack Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

I would say that they have made a contribution to the evolution of democracy and what we're seeing in Egypt

Gates

Clinton supports transition

Clinton made clear over the weekend that the United States supports the transition effort undertaken by Suleiman.

However, the White House on Tuesday called on the Egyptian government to stop harassing protesters and journalists covering the two-week uprising and release any who have been detained.

Suleiman has been talking with opposition groups, including the banned Muslim Brotherhood, but the government has conceded little ground to demands for Mubarak's immediate ouster.

Mubarak has said he will not run in September elections.

U.S. officials were concerned that forcing political change too quickly could create more instability in the world's largest Arab country, a key player in the Middle East peace process and important regional counterbalance to Iran.

Gates oversees U.S. ties with Egypt's military, which receives about $1.3 billion in U.S. aid every year -- in part for keeping the peace with Israel since the two countries signed a groundbreaking accord in 1979.

U.S. officials have made clear they believe the Egyptian military was not responsible for widespread violence against protesters last week, although it also failed to stop it.

Washington has made clear there are no plans to review military aid to Egypt at this crucial juncture.

Meanwhile, French Defense Minister Alain Juppe on Tuesday said it was time to "bet" on democratic forces in Egypt, calling for a peaceful, swift political transition.

Egyptian leaders have claimed the country faces a choice between the regime and Islamic extremists, but "it is necessary today to bet on the emergence of democratic forces," Juppe said after talks with his American counterpart, Gates.