CAIRO: U.S. President Barack Obama delivered a “frank” message to Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak yesterday that he must begin transition to a new government now, MSNBC reported U.S. Press Secretary Robert Gibbs as saying. “The message that the president delivered clearly to President Mubarak was that the time for change had come,” Gibbs said in the daily White House briefing.” The message is the most recent in a string of statements from the White House, beginning with a statement from Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on February 25, the first day of Egypt's uprising: “our assessment is that the Egyptian Government is stable and is looking for ways to respond to the legitimate needs and interests of the Egyptian people.” The tune of the White House has since changed. After Mubarak's statement late Tuesday night saying he would not run for reelection this fall, Obama spoke and stressed the dedication of the United States to democracy. “I do not think that this news will be what pushes Mubarak over the brink and out of this government,” Hannah Elsisi told Bikya Masr after returning from Tahrir Square on Wednesday. Elsisi, currently residing in the United Kingdom, flew back to Egypt on Monday to participate in the demonstrations. “If eight million Egyptians, angry and frustrated, cannot dissuade Mubarak from continuing this term as President, Obama's statements are useless.” BM
