U.S. Obama
reaffirmed on Saturday the importance of an orderly and peaceful
transition in Egypt that begins now.
He called for the transition to a government "that is responsive
to the aspirations of the Egyptian people, including credible,
inclusive negotiations between the government and the opposition,"
the White House said.
In his phone calls to Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed of the
United Arab Emirates, British Prime Minister David Cameron and
German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Obama discussed his "serious
concern" about the targeting of journalists and human rights groups,
and reaffirmed that the Egyptian government has a responsibility to
protect the rights of its people and to release immediately those
who have been unjustly detained.
Obama made a public call a week ago for an orderly transition in
Egypt that must be "meaningful," "peaceful" and "must begin now."
The leaders agreed to stay in close contact going forward, the
White House said, adding that Obama and Merkel also reviewed
developments in the broader Middle East, including the Quartet
meeting in Munich, Germany on Saturday.
At their Munich meeting, the Quartet on Middle East mediators,
which include the United Nations, the United States, the European
Union and Russia, reiterated their determinations to push forward
Israeli-Palestinian peace process.
