Obama hopes Mubarak will make ‘right decision about his country’s future’

WASHINGTON - US President Barack Obama has said that he hopes President Hosni Mubarak would make the right decision regarding leaving behind a legacy in which Egypt is able to get through its transformative period.

Although Mubarak has assured that he would not run for re-election in September, his protestors want him to step down immediately.

Obama believes that Mubarak, who is a “patriot”, would take the right decision about the time of his exit.

“Now, I believe that President Mubarak cares about his country. He is proud, but he’s also a patriot. Mubarak needs to listen to what’s being voiced by the Egyptian people and make a judgment about a pathway forward that is orderly but that is meaningful and serious,” CBS News quoted Obama, as saying.

“He’s already said that he’s not going to run for re-election,” the president continued. The key question he should be asking himself is, ‘how do I leave a legacy behind in which Egypt is able to get through this transformative period?’ And my hope is that he will end up making the right decision,” he added.

Although there are reports that the White House is engaged in talks with top Egyptian officials about the prospect of Mubarak’s immediate resignation, Obama avoided talking about his country’s involvement in the matter, but only stressed that Egypt’s future will be decided by its own people.

“The future of Egypt will be determined by its people. It’s also clear that there needs to be a transition process that begins now. That transition must initiate a process that respects the universal rights the Egyptian people and that leads to free and fair elections. Now, the details of this transition will be worked out by Egyptians, and my understanding is that some discussions have begun,” Obama said. (ANI)