United States encouraged by the relative calm in Egypt on Friday, is urgently trying to persuade opposition groups to participate in a dialogue with Vice President Omar Suleiman in a meeting scheduled for Saturday morning.
Over the past 24 hours, senior administration officials have urged the army and a still-unformed council of respected leaders from across Egyptian society to step forward and bless the dialogue.
President Obama said Friday that "discussions have begun" about swiftly transitioning to a new government in Egypt, but he insisted that whatever new leadership takes place must be determined by Egyptians themselves.
Speaking at the White House after a meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper, Obama said the United States is "consulting widely within Egypt and the international community." He stopped short, once again, of calling for Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak to leave his post immediately, instead repeating that the transition must begin "now."
"The entire world is watching," Obama said. "I am confident that the Egyptian people can shape the future that they deserve, and as they do, they will continue to have a strong friend and partner in America." He said he was "encouraged by the restraint" that was shown in Cairo on Friday, when protests demanding the immediate ouster of Mubarak did not turn violent as had been widely feared.
"We continue to be crystal clear that we oppose violence as a response to this crisis," Obama said. "In recent days, we've seen violence and harassment erupt on the streets of Egypt that violates human rights. We are sending a strong and unequivocal message: Attacks on reporters are unacceptable. Attacks on human rights activists are unacceptable. Attacks on peaceful protestors are unacceptable. The Egyptian government has a responsibility to protect the rights of its people. Those demonstrating also have a responsibility to do so peacefully."
At the Saturday meeting, the administration hopes that government and opposition leaders will begin to draw the contours of a multi-step transition, including the immediate suspension of harsh emergency laws and establishment of a roadmap for constitutional change and free and fair elections.
President Obama said Friday that "discussions have begun" about swiftly transitioning to a new government in Egypt, but he insisted that whatever new leadership takes place must be determined by Egyptians themselves.
Speaking at the White House after a meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper, Obama said the United States is "consulting widely within Egypt and the international community." He stopped short, once again, of calling for Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak to leave his post immediately, instead repeating that the transition must begin "now."
"The entire world is watching," Obama said. "I am confident that the Egyptian people can shape the future that they deserve, and as they do, they will continue to have a strong friend and partner in America." He said he was "encouraged by the restraint" that was shown in Cairo on Friday, when protests demanding the immediate ouster of Mubarak did not turn violent as had been widely feared.
"We continue to be crystal clear that we oppose violence as a response to this crisis," Obama said. "In recent days, we've seen violence and harassment erupt on the streets of Egypt that violates human rights. We are sending a strong and unequivocal message: Attacks on reporters are unacceptable. Attacks on human rights activists are unacceptable. Attacks on peaceful protestors are unacceptable. The Egyptian government has a responsibility to protect the rights of its people. Those demonstrating also have a responsibility to do so peacefully."
At the Saturday meeting, the administration hopes that government and opposition leaders will begin to draw the contours of a multi-step transition, including the immediate suspension of harsh emergency laws and establishment of a roadmap for constitutional change and free and fair elections.
