STATE
Obama: US backs orderly transition in Egypt
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
President Barack Obama is urging the Egyptian government to swiftly explain to its people the changes announced today by President Hosni Mubarak.
In a statement, Obama says that Egyptians have been told about a transition of authority but that it is not yet clear that the changes are immediate, meaningful or sufficient. He says too many Egyptians are not convinced that the government is serious about making a genuine transition to democracy.
Mubarak took to the airwaves today to announce that he was handing some powers over to his vice president. He did not step down as thousands of anti-Mubarak protesters have been demanding.
The U.S. has been calling for an orderly transition in Egypt after weeks of protests in favor of democracy.