US special envoy to Egypt Frank Wisner has said that Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak needs to remain in power for the time being, but another official said the comments are not the US position, Press TV reported.
Speaking at a security conference in Germany, Wisner said the outcome of the situation in Egypt is extraordinarily important.
According to the US envoy, what happens in Egypt affects all of the United States' interests in the region, AFP reported.
However, the US government has disassociated itself from Wisner's comments.
A member of the US delegation to the security conference in Munich said that Wisner was speaking as a private citizen and not on behalf of the US government.
On Saturday, millions of people gathered in Cairo's Liberation Square, which has been a focal point for demonstrators, as well as in other cities for the twelfth consecutive day, chanting anti-government slogans.
The rallies were largely peaceful. However, sporadic gunfire and street battles between protesters and government forces were reported in Cairo.