U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said her government expects protests in Egypt to lead to a legitimate election process, as governments around the globe attempt to keep up with the fast-moving political upheaval.
"We want to see free and fair elections and we expect that this will be one of the outcomes of what is going on," Clinton said in back-to-back interviews with U.S. television stations on Sunday, before leaving on a trip to Haiti.
Earlier in the day, U.S. President Barack Obama issued a plea for restraint in Egypt, asking President Hosni Mubarak's government and the protesters to avoid violence while "supporting universal rights and supporting concrete steps that advance political reform within Egypt."
Clinton said the Obama administration wasn't focused on who should lead the country, but on ensuring a smooth transition and maintaining the safety of Egypt's citizens.
"It's not a question of who retains power. ... It's how are we going to respond to the legitimate needs and grievances expressed by the Egyptian people and chart a new path. Clearly, the path that has been followed has not been one that has created that democratic future, that economic opportunity that people in the peaceful protests are seeking."
Analyst Kamran Bokhari of the private intelligence firm Stratfor says the U.S. is in a difficult position as protests mount in a country considered to be its most important ally in the volatile region.
"Clearly the United States cannot come out and completely support Hosni Mubarak, and therefore the statement that the government needs reforms, it needs to deal with protesters in a non-violent way, while at the same time appealing for the protesters to remain non-violent," Bokhari told Â鶹´«Ã½ Channel on Sunday.
"This is a very difficult balancing act because when you have crowds on the streets it is difficult to see where this government is going and what will be coming next."
Bokhari said it is concerning for the U.S. that the pillar of stability in the Middle East is crumbling. He said there is no promise that there will be continuity in the relationship between the West and Egypt's new leadership.
Protests have rocked Egypt for six straight days, fueled by anger over the country's crushing poverty, unemployment and corruption.
Clinton said the U.S. has authorized "voluntary departure," meaning the government would help citizens get out of Egypt if they chose to leave.
The U.S. Embassy in Cairo told Americans to consider leaving the country as soon as possible and has authorized the voluntary departure of families and non-emergency employees.
Canada has cautioned citizens against non-essential travel to Egypt, but has not moved to assist in evacuating citizens from the North African nation.
Other countries, including China, France, Germany, Belgium and Russia have also warned or advised their citizens against travel to Egypt.
Saudi Arabia, Jordan and the United Arab Emirates, among others, were sending planes into Egypt and organizing to transport their nationals out of the country.
Iraq offered to evacuate its own citizens stranded amid the political unrest.
"We will send whatever planes needed to those who want to leave Egypt," Transportation Ministry spokesperson Aqeel Hadi Kawthar told The Associated Press in a telephone interview. "It will be free of charge."
With files from The Associated Press
