Us Calls for Free, Fair Polls in Egypt

WASHINGTON, Jan 30: US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Sunday called on embattled Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak to hold free and fair elections.

Appearing on NBC’s “Meet the Press” programme, Mrs Clinton said: “We want to see free and fair elections and we suspect that will be one of the outcomes of what is going on in Egypt right now.” She said Egypt’s military appeared to be showing restraint against peaceful protesters while instead trying to control looting.

She also said on ABC’s “This Week” show that Mr Mubarak’s appointment on Saturday of intelligence chief Omar Suleiman as vice president marked the ‘bare beginning’ of political reform, but insisted that much more needed to be done.

Our Correspondend adds: Speaking on “Fox News Sunday”, the US Secretary of State offered to help with an ‘orderly transition’ in Egypt as the Saudi king urged President Barack Obama not to abandon Mr Mubarak.

She said the United States was prepared to help with “an orderly transition so that there not be a void, that there be a well thought-out plan that will bring about a democratic, participatory government”.

Asked if the US had told Egypt that any military crackdown would result in a cut-off of US military assistance, Secretary Clinton said: “No.

Right now, we’re monitoring the actions of the Egyptian military.” She said “there is no discussion as of this time about cutting off any aid” but “we always are looking and reviewing our aid.” As Egyptian people increase pressure on Mr Mubarak to step down, the United States seems torn between its loyalty to an old ally and the need to respond to a popular demand.

Mrs Clinton stressed the need for “a peaceful, orderly transition to a democratic regime,” but refused to engage in speculation about possible US sanctuary for Mr Mubarak if he were driven into exile.

“This is a complex, very difficult situation,” she said on CNN’s “State of the Union”.

“Egypt has been a partner of the United States over the last 30 years, has been instrumental in keeping the peace in the Middle East between Egypt and Israel, which is a critical accomplishment that has meant so much to so many people,” she said.

After an hour-long meeting with his national security team on Saturday evening, President Obama telephoned Saudi King Abdullah, expressing concerns over “the chaotic situation and looting in Egypt”.

The US media reported that the king told Mr Obama that there should be no bargaining about Egypt’s stability and the security of its people.