Senate passes resolution calling on Hosni Mubarak to begin transfer of power in Egypt

[cal04]

Source: Washington Post

The Senate on Thursday passed a resolution supporting democracy in Egypt and calling on President Hosni Mubarak to begin the process of transferring power and creating a caretaker government as attacks on anti-government protesters entered their second day.

The resolution, sponsored by Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry (D-Mass.) and Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), passed Thursday evening by unanimous voice vote. It calls on Mubarak "to immediately begin an orderly and peaceful transition to a democratic political system, including the transfer of power to an inclusive interim caretaker government, in coordination with leaders from Egypt's opposition, civil society, and military, to enact the necessary reforms to hold free, fair, and internationally credible elections this year."

The resolution also "strongly condemns the intimidation, targeting or detention of journalists," calls on all parties to "refrain from all violent and criminal acts," and "expresses deep concern over any organization that espouses an extremist ideology, including the Muslim Brotherhood."

Earlier Thursday, Kerry emphasized that the resolution does not specify whether or not Mubarak should be part of a caretaker government and noted that the choice remains up to the Egyptian people.



Read more: http://voices.washingtonpost.com/44/2011/02/senate-expected-to-pass-resolu.html