WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Barack Obama
called leaders from Germany, Britain and the United Arab
Emirates Saturday to discuss the situation in Egypt and the
need for political change there, the White House said.
"The President emphasized the importance of an orderly,
peaceful transition, beginning now, to a government that is
responsive to the aspirations of the Egyptian people, including
credible, inclusive negotiations between the government and the
opposition," the White House said in a summary of Obama's
conversations.
Obama also voiced "his serious concern about the targeting
of journalists and human rights groups, and reaffirmed that the
government of Egypt has a responsibility to protect the rights
of its people and to release immediately those who have been
unjustly detained," the White House said.
(Reporting by Alister Bull; Editing by Peter Cooney)