Obama urges Egyptian military to ensure credible transition

Xinhua, February 12, 2011

U.S. President Barack Obama on Friday urged the Egyptian military to ensure a credible transition after Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak stepped down earlier the day.

In a six-minute televised speech, Obama said what is happening in Egypt is "a moment of history."

"The people of Egypt have spoken, their voices have been heard, and Egypt will never be the same," he said.

Obama said President Mubarak, by stepping down, responded to the Egyptian people's "hunger for change."

He said the Egyptian military has served patriotically and responsibly as a caretaker and will now have to ensure "a transition that is credible in eyes of Egyptian people."

Obama called for protecting the rights of Egyptian people, lifting the emergency law, revising the constitution and laying out a clear path to a fair and free election.

He vowed that the United States will continue to be a partner of Egypt and stand ready to provide assistance.

Obama said he is confident that the "ingenuity and entrepreneurial spirit" that the young people of Egypt have shown in recent days can be "harnessed to create new opportunity."

Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak stepped down on Friday and the military took charge of the country, after more than two weeks of mass protests demanding an end of his 30-year rule.