U.S. dispatches former Egypt envoy to Cairo
Washington - The administration has sent a former American ambassador to Egypt to meet with officials there, a government official said Tuesday.
National Security Council spokesman Tommy Vietor asked the United States Frank Wisner to go to Cairo.
"As a person with extensive experience in the region, is meeting with Egyptian officials and provide their assessment," Vietor said.
When asked Monday if Wisner was an official envoy noted the spokesman Foreign Ministry PJ Crowley, that "it is a private citizen", but "a retired diplomat."
Wisner "to know some of the key players within the Egyptian government," said Crowley, and officials thought it was a "useful" the former ambassador to interact with people within the Egyptian society.
Wisner said Crowley arrived in Cairo on Monday.
"We look forward to hearing his views," he told reporters at the daily briefing.
"This is an opportunity as well as Ambassador Wisner, who has had some of these figures, you know, to meet with them and confirm what the President said, what
Secretary (Clinton) said, at the same time have the opportunity to get perspective on what they think and what their thoughts are related ... process that we are clearly called for. "
U.S. Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton outlined the administration's position in separate meetings Sunday with five television networks, saying: "complex, very difficult" situation in Egypt requires careful progress towards a peaceful transition towards democracy rather than any sudden change or violence that could undermine the aspirations of the demonstrators.
"There are no easy answers," Clinton said on CNN's "State of the Union." "And it is clear that increasing chaos, even violence in the streets, escapes from prison, we had reports about - this is not the way forward.
"We want the peaceful uprising by the Egyptian people to demand their right to respond clearly, unambiguously by the government, after a process of national dialogue that will lead to changes in Egypt and people looking for that they deserve" said.
On Monday, the White House said Robert Gibbs Egyptian government should engage in "serious negotiations with a wide range of civil society, including opposition groups," and hold "free and fair elections" in September.
The movement called Clinton "is changing, and what we have advocated from the beginning, is that how Egypt looks and functions to be changed," Gibbs told reporters.
At the same time he said he is not the place in the United States to support or oppose any displacement of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak.