Pretoria - As Egypt's political crisis reached its eighth day on Tuesday, the United States called on embattled Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak to allow for an immediate smooth and peaceful transition.
Speaking on the issue for the first time, US President Barack Obama said while his administration opposed violence, he stood for universal values, including the rights of the Egyptian people to freedom of assembly, freedom of speech, and the freedom to access information.
The US is a long-time ally of Egypt and it was expected that the White House would be closely monitoring the events of the past week.
Obama commended the Egyptian army for the manner in which they have handled the crisis that has hit the Arab country.
"We've seen tanks covered with banners, and soldiers and protesters embracing in the streets. And going forward, I urge the military to continue its efforts to help ensure that this time of change is peaceful," he said.
Obama said he had spoken to President Mubarak on the need for transformation and transition. "He recognises that the status quo is not sustainable and that a change must take place...the voices of the Egyptian people tell us that this is one of those moments; this is one of those times," he said.
"Now, it is not the role of any other country to determine Egypt's leaders. Only the Egyptian people can do that. What is clear - and what I indicated tonight to President Mubarak - is my belief that an orderly transition must be meaningful, it must be peaceful, and it must begin now," added Obama.
