Clinton visits Egypt to push for transition to democracy

"It will take dialogue and compromise among all stakeholders and parties to achieve these goals and avoid confrontations that could derail progress toward democracy," Clinton said yesterday in Cairo during an appearance with Foreign Minister Mohamed Kamel Amr, Bloomberg reports.  

Thousands of protesters filled the streets near Cairo's presidential palace and Clinton's hotel, giving her a glimpse of the explosive politics in the Arab world's most populous nation. One placard said, "Go to hell, Hillary." Another, reflecting anti-Brotherhood sentiment, said "You like the Islamists, Hillary? Take them with you."

Clinton met yesterday with newly elected Egyptian President Mohamed Mursi, who was the candidate of the Brotherhood's Freedom and Justice Party. She is scheduled to sit down today with Field Marshal Mohamed Hussein Tantawi, head of the powerful military council. Clinton said she looked forward to working on the military's return to a "purely national security role" and the "full transition to civilian rule."

The Supreme Council of the Armed Forces, known as SCAF, stripped the presidency of much of its power in the days after Mursi's election last month and then dissolved parliament following a court ruling. The moves heightened tensions and threw into question the fate of the country's fledgling democracy.

Clinton praised the military for "representing" the Egyptian people during their relatively peaceful revolution last year and compared it with the Syrian regime's violent response to demands for democracy.

'Warp Speed'

In meetings yesterday with Mursi and Amr, Clinton also discussed the economy and regional security. She was meeting Mursi for the first time, sitting down to chat in a small room in the presidential palace.

As they began, she told him that things change at "warp speed." He said in English that "we are very, very keen to meet you and happy that you are here."

Although Mursi has said he would seek the release of Omar Abdel Rahman, the Egyptian-born militant convicted in the U.S. plotting to bomb several New York City landmarks, he didn't raise the case yesterday, Clinton said.

Clinton repeatedly stressed that Egypt's future lies in the hands of the Egyptians.

"I have come to Cairo to reaffirm the strong support of the United States for the Egyptian people and their democratic transition," she said. "As you move forward, we will be there with support. Your choices will decide the future of this country."

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