US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton called on the Egyptian government to introduce reforms as street protests against the rule of President Hosny Mubarak entered their second day.
Clinton also urged Egyptian authorities to allow peaceful protests and the use of social media, while calling on both sides to exercise restraint and to avoid violent clashes.
"We support the universal rights of the Egyptian people, including the rights to freedom of expression, association and assembly," Clinton said after meeting with Jordanian Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh. "And we urge the Egyptian authorities not to prevent peaceful protests or block communications, including on social media sites."
"We believe strongly that the Egyptian government has an important opportunity at this moment in time to implement political, economic and social reforms to respond to the legitimate needs and interests of the Egyptian people," she added.
Egypt is a close US ally in the region, even as Washington for years has urged Mubarak, who has held power since 1981, to reform the country.
The rallies against Mubarak come weeks after protesters in Tunisia forced former president Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali from office after 23 years in power.
Clinton and Judeh also discussed the unrest in Lebanon and the stalled Israeli-Palestinian peace process, dpa reported.
...