Washington confirms talks with Egypt on Mubarak's exit

The United States has held talks with the Egyptian authorities on ways to transfer power to a democratic government, White House spokesman Tommy Vietor said on Friday.

"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," Vietor, who handles State and Defense issues for President Barack Obama, said.

"President Obama has said now is the time to begin a peaceful, orderly and meaningful transition, with credible, inclusive negotiations," Vietor said in a statement.

Earlier on Friday, the New York Times quoted indentified U.S. officials and Arab diplomats as saying the Obama administration was discussing with Egyptian officials a proposal for President Hosni Mubarak to resign immediately, turning over power to a transitional government headed by Vice President Omar Suleiman with the support of the Egyptian military.

The plan stipulates that Suleiman, backed by Lt. Gen. Sami Enan, chief of the Egyptian armed forces, and Field Marshal Mohamed Tantawi, the defense minister, would immediately begin a process of constitutional reform, the newspaper said.

The proposal, one of several options under discussion, also calls for the transitional government to invite members from a various opposition groups, including the banned Muslim Brotherhood, and begin work to ensure free and fair elections in September, the report said.

According to a White House statement, U.S. Vice President Joseph Biden spoke with Mubarak by phone on Friday, reiterating the U.S. call for restraint towards protesters and urging the Egyptian government to immediately launch "credible, inclusive negotiations" with the opposition in order to bring about democratic reforms in the country.

Despite repeated calls by the White House to take "immediate" steps to resolve the crisis, Mubarak has so far refused to meet the opposition's demand and leave the office. In an interview with ABC News on Thursday, Mubarak said the country would descend further into "chaos" if he stepped down immediately.

Meanwhile, street protests against Mubarak's 30-year rule, which have hit Egypt since January 25, have already claimed the lives of at least 300 people and injured several thousand. On Thursday, at least eight people were killed and up to 1,500 were injured in violent clashes between opposition demonstrators and Mubarak supporters on Cairo's central Tahrir Square, and violence may continue on Friday as the opposition has called for further protests.

Following Mubarak's order, the Egyptian government began negotiations with several opposition groups, excluding the Muslim Brotherhood, which analysts say has many chances to come to power in the North African state if the Mubarak government collapses.

Mohamed ElBaradei, a former IAEA head and Mubarak's major political opponent, has refused to negotiate with the authorities as long as Mubarak remains in office.

 

WASHINGTON, February 4 (RIA Novosti)