Talks are under way between the Obama
administration and top Egyptian officials on the possible immediate
resignation of President Hosni Mubarak and the formation of a
military-backed caretaker government that could prepare the country
for free and fair elections later this year, U.S. officials say.
With protests in Cairo and other Egyptian cities expected to grow
in size and intensity Friday, the administration fears they may
erupt into more widespread violence unless the government takes
tangible steps to address the protesters' main demand that Mubarak
leave office quickly. Creation of an interim government is just one
of several possibilities under discussion, the officials said late
Thursday.
The officials spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the
sensitive diplomatic talks, which are continuing.
The officials stressed that the United States isn't seeking to
impose a solution on Egypt but said the administration had made a
judgment that Mubarak has to go soon if there is to be a peaceful
resolution to the crisis.
"The president has said that now is the time to begin a
peaceful, orderly and meaningful transition, with credible,
inclusive negotiations," a White House spokesman, Tommy Vietor,
said Thursday night. "We have discussed with the Egyptians a
variety of different ways to move that process forward, but all of
those decisions must be made by the Egyptian people."
White House and State Department officials would not discuss
details of the discussions U.S. officials are having with the
Egyptians. Vice President Joe Biden spoke with Egyptian Vice
President Omar Suleiman on Thursday, a day after a similar
conversation between Suleiman and Secretary of State Hillary Rodham
Clinton. Officials said neither Biden nor Clinton made a specific
call for Mubarak to resign immediately but pressed for measures that
would ease tensions on the streets and set the stage for democrtic
elections.
An administration official said there is no single plan being
discussed with the Egyptians. Rather, the administration is pursuing
different ideas with Egyptian figures on how to proceed quickly with
a process that includes a broad range of voices and leads to free
and fair elections - in essence, different ways to accomplish those
goals.
Among those options is a proposal for Mubarak to resign
immediately - which the embattled president has refused to do - and
for Mubarak to cede power to a transitional government run by
Suleiman.
But the official rejected the notion that the White House was
trying to impose that idea and said it was not at all clear it would
happen. The official spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss
internal deliberations.
The discussions come amid escalating violence between pro- and
anti-Mubarak forces.
The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said Friday he U.S.
has not raised its military readiness or alert status. Adm. Mike
Mullen also said there should not be any rush to terminate military
assistance.
Mullen also reinforced Obama's call for a "peaceful, nonviolent
transition" and said that decision ultimately must be made by the
Egyptian people and teir government.
As for U.S. assistance to Egypt, which has averaged about $1.3
billion a year, Mullen said Congress should not move too hastily to
cancel the program. Mullen said on ABC television's "Good Morning
America" he would "caution against doing anything until we know
what's really going on."
The United States on Thursday severely criticized what it called
systematic attacks on journalists in Egypt and said they appeared to
be an attempt to shut out reporting of even bigger anti-government
demonstrations to come.
Clinton condemned "in the strongest terms" the pro-government
mobs that beat, threatened and intimidated reporters in Cairo.
Attacks as well on peaceful demonstrators, human rights
activists, foreigners and diplomats were "unacceptable under any
circumstances," she said.
Clinton pointed the finger at Mubarak's government without
explicitlyblaming the 82-year-old president for the violence.
Egypt's government must hold accountable those responsible for the
attacks and "must demonstrate its willingness to ensure
journalists' ability to report on these events to the people of
Egypt and to the world," she said.
Foreign photographers reported ttacks by Mubarak supporters near
Cairo's Tahrir Square, the scene of vicious battles between Mubarak
supporters and protesters demanding he step down after nearly 30
years in power.
The Egyptian government has accused media outlets of being
sympathetic to protesters who want Mubarak to quit now rather than
complete his term as he has pledged.
White House spokesman Robert Gibbs offered a strong denunciation
of reported "systematic targeting" of journalists. He said, "I
think we need to be clear that the world is watching the actions
that are taking place right now in Egypt."
On Capitol Hill, the Senate approved a non-binding resolution
late Thursday urging Mubarak to hand over power to a caretaker
government and begin a peaceful transition to a democratic society.
The administration's call for an immediate transition from three
decades of authoritarian rule in Egypt has coincided with American
hopes that reforms in Jordan and Yemen could stave off similar
revolt.
All three countries have experienced instability since protesters
in Tunisia chased their leader from power last month.
