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White House Presses Egyptian Leaders For More Change

   Kent Klein | White House  February 09, 2011
   White  House  Press  Secretary Robert Gibbs briefs reporters about the
   situation in Egypt (file photo)

Photo: AP

   White  House  Press  Secretary Robert Gibbs briefs reporters about the
   situation in Egypt (file photo))

   U.S.  officials say Egyptâs leaders are not making a minimum amount of
   reforms  their  people demand.  The Obama administration continues to
   push President Hosni Mubarakâs government for greater change.  Â
   President  Barack  Obamaâs  spokesman,  Robert  Gibbs,  told reporters
   Wednesday  the demonstrations in the streets of Cairo will continue to
   grow until Egyptâs government makes adequate reforms.
   "I think it is clear that what the government has thus far put forward
   has  yet  to  meet  a minimum threshold for the people of Egypt," said
   Gibbs.  "That  is  why  many  of  you  reported  that  the  crowds  in
   yesterdayâs [Tuesday] protests were bigger than even those on Friday."
   Gibbs  says the United States is calling on President Mubarak to begin
   an  orderly transition immediately, and allow his people to have basic
   civil and political rights.
   "Unless or until that process takes hold, I think you are going to see
   the  continued  pictures  that all of us are watching out of Cairo and
   other cities throughout Egypt," he said.
   Administration  officials  say they have been in contact with not only
   members of Mr. Mubarakâs government, but also leaders of Egyptâs civil
   society.
   One  of  the  more  recent  high-level  contacts  was a telephone call
   Tuesday between Vice President Joe Biden and his Egyptian counterpart,
   Omar Suleiman.
   Vice  President  Suleimanâs  efforts  to  talk  with  protesters about
   proposed  reforms have broken down in recent days.  He warned Tuesday
   that  what  he  called  a "coup" could take place unless demonstrators
   agree to negotiate.
   Gibbs  told  reporters Wednesday the Egyptian peopleâs concerns cannot
   be  met  by  violence,  and  that immediate and irreversible change is
   needed.   He  also  said  the  situation  will not be resolved if the
   government is not willing to change and the protesters are not willing
   to negotiate.
   Since  the  demonstrations  began about two weeks ago, Mr. Mubarak has
   said he will not seek re-election in September.  Also, Vice President
   Suleiman  announced that the presidentâs son, Gamal Mubarak, would not
   be  a  candidate  for  national  office.   And  the leadership of the
   presidentâs National Democratic Party stepped down.
   However,  U.S.  officials  say  Egyptâs  leaders need to listen to the
   demonstrators in the streets and implement wider reforms. Â

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