Egypt: US Calls on Govt to Take Immediate Action

Lilian Tabu

The U.S government has urged the government of Egypt to meet the demands of its people by lifting an emergency law and launching democratic reforms, following the massive industrial action in the country. The revolt started three weeks ago, with protesters demanding that President Hosni Mubarak, step down from office. Several protesters, on Wednesday, attempted to block parliament buildings in Cairo, a strategy to drive out the president from his seat.

 “We came to prevent the NDP members from entering. We will stay until our demands are met or we will die here,” said 25-year-old Mohammed Abdullah, as the crowd chanted anti-Mubarak slogans.

Mr. Gibbs, president’s Barack Obama’s spokesman referred to the steps taken by the government of Egypt as  mere ‘concessions’ and not genuine reforms.

 “I think it is clear that the Egyptian government is going to have to take some real, concrete steps in order to meet the threshold that the people of Egypt, that they represent, require from their government," he said.

He added that the US was reviewing its aid programme to Egypt, and the government's restraint and reform would determine "what that aid will look like".

The White House warned of continuous protests by the Egyptians should it fail to meet their demands.

These comments come after U.S Vice president, Joe Bidden told the government of Egypt to lift the emergency law and stop harassment on protesters and reporters.

 However, the foreign minister for Egypt, Mr. Ahmed Aboul Gheit, has refused to heed to calls of disbanding the emergency law, terming it as imposition of U.S will on Egypt.

“When you speak about prompt, immediate, now - as if you are imposing on a great country like Egypt, a great friend that has always maintained the best of relationship with the United States, you are imposing your will on him.’ he told the PBS programme this morning.

Mubarak, who has ruled for 30 years, promised not to go for re-election or engineer his son’s election, and also pledged to increase public sector wages by 15 per cent, a move that unnerved the protesters who still demand he step down immediately.

The three week- old revolt has seen violence erupt in various parts of Egypt, with the Human Watchdog Researchers confirming 297 deaths since January 28 2011, from the count of eight hospitals in the cities of Cairo, Alexandria and Suez.