Obama urges Mubarak to 'listen'

[Turborama]

Source: Al Jazeera English

US president says Egyptian leader should hear concerns of protesters and focus on creating legitimate transition.
Last Modified: Feb 05 2011 00:09 GMT

Barack Obama, the US president, has said Hosni Mubarak should "listen" to protesters calling for him to quit immediately, but he stopped short of explicitly urging the Egyptian president to go now.

"He needs to listen to what is voiced by the people and make a judgement about a pathway forward that is orderly, that is meaningful and serious," Obama said on Friday, in carefully worded comments on Egypt's political future.

Obama told reporters that in two conversations with Mubarak since mass protests against the Egyptian leader's 30-year rule began 11 days ago he stressed the need for an orderly transition to democracy in the country, long a cornerstone of US Middle East strategy.

"Having made that psychological break, that decision that he will not be running again, I think the most important thing for him to ask himself ... is how do we make that transition effective and lasting and legitimate,'' Obama said at a news conference with Stephen Harper, the Canadian prime minister.

"The key question he should be asking himself is: how do I leave a legacy behind in which Egypt is able to get through this transformative period?' And my hope is ... that he will end up making the right decision,'' Obama said.

Read more: http://english.aljazeera.net/news/americas/2011/02/20112421336274453.html

[Unvanguard]

1. He doesn't need to listen. He needs to go. n/t

[jakeXT]

2. Well, I bet some Democrats would wish the same

[Rosa Luxemburg]

3. Once the protesters finish with him he may not have any ears left?