US welcomes developments in Egypt

Vice-president Joe Biden hails transition 24 hours after White House made to look foolish by Mubarak refusing to leave

• Ewen MacAskill in Washington
• guardian.co.uk, Friday 11 February 2011 19.30 GMT
• Article history

Joe Biden hailed Mubarak's departure, two weeks after defending him. Photograph: Ed Reinke/AP

The White House has hailed the exit of Hosni Mubarak, describing it as a pivotal moment for Egypt and the rest of the Middle East.
The relief in Washington, less than 24 hours after it watched in dismay a speech by Mubarak in which he had refused to stand down, was shared elsewhere round the world.

The US vice-president, Joe Biden, who has been in regular contact with his Egyptian counterpart, Omar Suleiman, threw the weight of the White House behind a move to free and fair elections now that the obstacle of Mubarak has been removed.

"The transition that's taking place must be an irreversible change and a negotiated path toward democracy," Biden said. "What is at stake in Egypt and across the Middle East is not just about Egypt alone." Only two weeks ago, Biden had been praising Mubarak, insisting he was not a Read More