Clinton calls on Egypt to restrain security forces

>WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Secretary of State Hillary Clinton urged Egypt on Friday to rein in its security forces and allow peaceful protests, escalating pressure on an important ally as demonstrations raged across the country. Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak imposed a curfew and ordered troops to back up police as they struggled to control crowds who flooded the streets of Cairo and other Egyptian cities to demand that he step down.Clashes between protesters and security forces in Cairo and other major cities left dozens of people wounded."We urge the Egyptian authorities to allow peaceful protests and to reverse the unprecedented steps it has taken to cut off communications," Clinton told reporters in Washington."These protests underscore that there are deep grievances within Egyptian society, and the Egyptian government needs to understand that violence will not make these grievances go away."Tens of thousands of Egyptians took to the streets after Friday prayers in the biggest of four consecutive days of protests by people fed up with unemployment, poverty, corruption and the lack of freedom under Mubarak.President Barack Obama, Clinton, and other U.S. officials have raised their rhetoric about the situation as the protests raged. Obama on Thursday called on Mubarak to make "absolutely critical" reforms.Even with a more assertive tone, the U.S. administration has juggled its desire for regional stability, support for democratic change and determination to avoid the rise of an anti-U.S.

">WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Secretary of State Hillary Clinton urged Egypt on Friday to rein in its security forces and allow peaceful protests, escalating pressure on an important ally as demonstrations raged across the country"Islamist government in Cairo potentially aligned with Iran.PARTNERSHIPClinton focused her comments on averting violence."We are deeply concerned about the use of violence by Egyptian police and security forces against protesters, and we call on the Egyptian government to do everything in its power to restrain the security forces," she said."At the same time, protesters should also refrain from violence and express themselves peacefully."She urged the government to view civil society as "a partner" rather than a threat.The United States sees Egypt as a crucial partner itself, a linchpin for future Israeli-Palestinian peacemaking and a bulwark against Iran's regional clout.Clinton emphasized that partnership in her remarks. 1 2 Next Politics Elections 2010 Tweet this Share this Link this Digg this Email Reprints