Obama gives clear hint to Mubarak to step down

US President said the Egyptian strongman should reconsider his position amid a mass uprising.

As uncertainty gripped Egypt,US President Barack Obama has delivered a clear hint to Hosni Mubarak to step down by listening to his people and make the “right decision”.

Calling for immediate start of an “orderly transition” in Egypt,where tens of thousands of people are rallying for ouster of Mubarak,Obama said the Egyptian strongman should reconsider his position amid a mass uprising.

“In order for Egypt to have a bright future,the only thing that will work is moving an orderly transition process that begins right now that engages all parties,leads to democratic practises,fair and free elections,and representative government that is responsive to the grievances of the Egyptian people,” Obama said during his joint interaction with visiting Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper.

Story continues below this ad

As unrest escalated in the North African nation,Obama had telephonic talk on the situation with Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

“He (Mubarak) needs to listen to what is being voiced by the Egyptian people,and make a judgement about the way forward that is orderly,but that is meaningful and serious,” the US president said.

Though Obama did not explicitly say that Mubarak should leave power immediately,but his choice of words made it clear that Washington is pinning for an immediate political transition in Egypt that does not include Mubarak.

Obama’s message for change came as the New York Times quoting top US officials reported that US is pushing for Vice President Omar Sulaiman to head a new transition government backed by the army.

Story continues below this ad

Egypt’s Prime Minster Ahmed Shafiq,however,ruled out a possibility that Mubarak would hand over or transfer power

to Sulaiman.

Obama said since Mubarak has himself announced he is not going to be running again,he should be thinking on how to leave a legacy behind in which Egypt is able to get through this transformative period.

Terming the Egyptian President as a proud patriot,Obama said he has suggested Mubarak that he needs to consult with those who are in his government.

“Having made that psychological break,that decision that he will not be running again,I think its most important for him to ask himself,for the Egyptian government to ask itself as well as the opposition to ask itself is,how do we make the transition effective,lasting and legitimate?” Obama said.

Story continues below this ad

During each of his conversations with Mubarak,Obama said he emphasised the fact that the future of Egypt is going to be in the hands of Egyptians.