U.S. encourages ElBaradei to “engage in a meaningful dialogue” with Egyptian government

PanARMENIAN.Net - Top U.S. officials spoke to the two players that could determine the future of the Egyptian government, as the Obama administration began more publicly working toward a resolution of the crisis in the world’s largest Arab nation.

Frank Wisner, a former ambassador to Egypt tapped by the State Department to engage with the Egyptian government, spoke with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak. The current U.S. ambassador in Cairo, Margaret Scobey, spoke with former International Atomic Energy Agency Chief Mohamed ElBaradei, who has emerged as the central figure of the Egyptian opposition, administration officials said.

In both phone conversations, the Americans intended to clarify what President Barack Obama meant by “an orderly transition to democracy,” and to make clear that Washington does not believe Mr. Mubarak has come close to satisfying that demand, a White House official said. Ms. Scobey also encouraged Mr. ElBaradei to “engage in a meaningful dialogue” with the Egyptian government, as pressure mounts on Mr. Mubarak to reform the country’s constitution and move quickly toward free and fair elections, administration officials said, Wall Street Journal reported.

According to Egyptian media reports, ElBaradei suggests two possible options to seize power: creation of an interim presidential council of two military figures and one politician or appointing Gneral Omar Suleiman as an interim president, until creation of a new constitution and parliamentary elections.