WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House on Monday called for free and fair elections in Egypt but is refused to say whether the administration believes President Hosni Mubarak should run in those contests.
White House spokesman Robert Gibbs dismissed Mr. Mubarak’s move on Monday to appoint a new government, saying the situation in Egypt calls for action, not appointments. Mr. Mubarak named a new government in an apparent attempt to defuse the weeklong political upheaval in his country. Tens of thousands of demonstrators have flooded the streets, calling for his ouster.
Mr. Gibbs also said the U.S. Embassy in Cairo has not been in contact with opposition leader Mohamed ElBaradei this week. Egypt’s government put Mr. ElBaradei on house arrest after he returned to the country amid the protests.
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