Obama says US ready to support 'orderly and genuine' transition to democracy in

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Obama says US ready to support 'orderly and genuine' transition to democracy in

Egypt

By a Werner,Tom Raum, The Associated Press | The Canadian Press – 17 minutes

ago

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama called for an " orderly and genuine "

transition to democracy in Egypt on Thursday, but President Hosni Mubarak

stopped short of meeting protesters' demands that he step down at once. He did

say he was transferring some powers to his vice-president.

The Egyptian president, in a televised address from his palace in Cairo,

promised a peaceful transfer of power but did not spell out exactly what was

next.

He said the demands of protesters calling for his immediate ouster were just,

and he said he had requested six constitutional amendments in line with their

urging. He said he would lift hated emergency laws when security permitted.

Mubarak also vowed to punish those behind violence over the past two weeks and

offered condolences to the families of those killed. He said he was transferring

some power to his vice-president, Suleiman, but the angry crowd in Cairo's

central square clearly was not satisfied.

" We are following today's events in Egypt very closely, " President Obama said

before Mubarak's speech, adding that he would " have more to say as this plays

out. "

" What is absolutely clear is we are witnessing history unfold, " Obama told

students at Northern Michigan University in Marquette, Michigan. " It's a moment

of transformation. "

Mubarak was under enormous pressure from protesters pushing for the immediate

end of his 29-year hold on power.

Washington officials followed the unfolding drama in Cairo with hopeful

expectation for a smooth transition — mixed with concern over the

unpredictability of the developments.

" There is no question that what we are seeing happening in Egypt will have

tremendous impact, " CIA Director Leon Panetta told the House Intelligence

Committee. " If it's done right, it will help us a great deal in trying to

promote stability in that part of the world. If it happens wrong, it could

create some serious problems for us and for the rest of the world. "

Obama said that " the people of Egypt are calling for change, they've turned out

in extraordinary numbers and all ages and all walks of life. " But especially,

Obama said, it was young people " who've been at the forefront " of the demand for

change.

" We want those young people, and we want all Egyptians to know, America will do

all we can to support an orderly and genuine transition to democracy in Egypt, "

he told his youthful audience. Obama was in Michigan to promote plans to widen

access to high-speed wireless services.

On Capitol Hill before Mubarak's speech, House Intelligence Committee Chairman

Mike asked Panetta about news reports that the leader was poised to

relinquish power.

" I got the same information you did, that there is a strong likelihood that

Mubarak will step down this evening, which will be significant in terms of where

the hopefully orderly transition in Egypt will take place, " the CIA director

said.

Egypt's military announced on national television that it had stepped in to

" safeguard the country " and assured protesters that Mubarak would meet their

demands. That was the strongest indication yet that the longtime leader was

leaving.

The administration was also watching closely for developments that might affect

U.S. aid to Egypt. A coup or other non-constitutional transfer of power could

trigger a statutory suspension in all non-humanitarian assistance. The U.S. is

providing at least $1.5 billion annually to Egypt in military aid.

Panetta, after his congressional testimony, told reporters that, while " we've

received indications that he (Mubarak) was going to make these remarks " to

announce he was stepping down, " we haven't been able to confirm that he in fact

is going to do that, so we're just monitoring the situation right now. "

Director of National Intelligence Clapper, who appeared with Panetta

before the House committee, said the terror syndicate al-Qaida and the Islamic

hardline groups Hamas and Hezbollah were also paying close attention to the

unfolding events in Egypt.

" They are watching and observing this just as we are and are looking for

opportunities perhaps to exploit or further their interests, " Clapper said.

In testimony to the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Deputy Secretary of State

Steinberg said the administration has " declared publicly and privately

that a peaceful, orderly and meaningful transition must begin without delay. "

Both Republicans and Democrats expressed concerns about whether the

fundamentalist Muslim Brotherhood would be part of any post-Mubarak government

and pressed Steinberg on the administration's position on the group. The

officially banned Brotherhood, the largest opposition group in Egypt, advocates

rule by Islamic law.

" We are not focused on any one group, " Steinberg told the committee.

Steinberg said the administration was actively working to ensure that an

Egyptian government strengthens liberties and respects religious groups as well

as honours Egypt's peace treaty with Israel.

Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, the Republican chairwoman of the committee, said

flatly, " Engaging the Muslim Brotherhood must not be on the table. "

___

a Werner reported from Marquette, Michigan. AP writers Dozier,

Donna Cassata, Lee and Barry Schweid contributed from Washington.