US urges Egypt to address demands

The White House said tonight that the “legitimate grievances” of the Egyptian people must be addressed immediately by the Egyptian government and violence is not the right response.

Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said President Barack Obama has not spoken with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, the target of street protests. Asked why not, Mr Gibbs said: “We’re monitoring a very fluid situation.”

Mr Gibbs said it was time for reform to come to Egypt.

He reiterated calls for restraint and said that the Pentagon has been in direct contact with the Egyptian military to caution restraint.

The US is treading carefully amid the threat to a stalwart ally in the Arab world considered a lynchpin for American efforts to forge Middle East peace and tamp down Islamic extremism.