WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Defense Secretary Robert
Gates said Tuesday the unrest in Tunisia and Egypt was a
spontaneous manifestation of discontent and urged other
countries in the region to take heed and begin needed political
and economic reforms.
"My hope would be that other governments in the region --
seeing this spontaneous action in both Tunisia and in Egypt --
will take measures to begin moving in a positive direction
toward addressing the political and economic grievances of
their people," Gates told a news conference.
(Reporting by Phil Stewart and David Alexander)