US Defense Secretary Leon Panetta on Friday urged Egyptian Field Marshal
Hussein Tantawi to move swiftly forward with Egypt's political
transition, and called for new legislative elections to be held as soon
as possible.
In a telephone conversation, the two discussed current events in Egypt.
"Tantawi
reiterated the SCAF's (Supreme Council of the Armed Forces') commitment
to hold free and fair presidential elections... and to transfer power to
a democratically elected government by July 1," the Pentagon stated.
Panetta
emphasized the need to "ensure a full and peaceful transition to
democracy," and said he was looking forward to working with the new
government to advance mutual interests.
Panetta's phone call came on the eve of Egypt's presidential run-off election between Muslim Brotherhood candidate Mohamed Morsy and ousted president Hosni Mubarak's last prime minister Ahmed Shafiq.