20110211
presstv
US President Barack Obama says he, like Egyptian people, is unconvinced the government is serious about a “genuine transition to democracy."

Hosni Mubarak has failed to lay out credible, concrete and irreversible change, Obama said in a strong worded statement after Mubarak declared on Wednesday that he will not step down and transferred some power to Vice President Omar Suleiman.

Suleiman, a former intelligence chief, has promised to carry out change.

He said any proposals for reform are open for discussion and he has even agreed to talk to the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood, long shunned by Mubarak's government as its most bitter rival.

Cairo must spell out a clear path to democracy as it is not clear that this transition is immediate, meaningful or sufficient, Obama told his national security team at the White House.

"Too many Egyptians remain unconvinced that the government is serious about a genuine transition to democracy, and it is the responsibility of the government to speak clearly to the Egyptian people and the world,” Obama said.

The 82-year-old Mubarak has refused to end his 30-year rule saying that he would remain in office until the next elections in September. As per reports, he has only ceded some authority to the vice president.

“The Egyptian government must put forward a credible, concrete and unequivocal path toward genuine democracy, and they have not yet seized that opportunity,” the statement said.

Meanwhile, protesters pledged to launch their most spectacular protest yet in Cairo on Friday to demand Mubarak's departure and his newly appointed deputy.

Several Egyptian cities, including the capital Cairo, Alexandria and Suez have been the scene of a massive revolution over the past 17 days as millions of people spilled out into the streets, calling for an immediate end to Mubarak's three-decade US-backed rule.

At least 300 people have so far been killed and thousands more have been injured during nationwide protests.