Obama telephones Erdogan to discuss development in Egypt

Following the resignation of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, US President Barack Obama telephoned Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan Saturday night to evaluate developments, in their third conversation on the subject since the unrest in Egypt began. In their conversation, Erdogan and Obama agreed it was positive that the Egyptian people's demands were met, while Erdogan particularly stressed the importance of immediate elections to select a new leader, daily Milliyet reported. The Prime Ministry Press Office said the two leaders "exchanged views on problems within the region, focusing on Egypt." On Friday Erdogan's office said in a press statement, "We hope Egypt's Supreme Council of the Armed Forces ... will hand over power to a new administration, to be formed through fair and free elections, in the shortest possible time and a transition to a constitutional democracy, shaped by the will of the Egyptian people, will be ensured. We sincerely believe that Egypt ... will emerge stronger as a result of these developments."