In an interview with American PBS television, the minister said that "When you speak about prompt, immediate, now -- as if you are imposing on a great country like Egypt, a great friend that has always maintained the best of relationship with the United States, you are imposing your will on him."
Since mass anti-government protests erupted on Jan. 25 in Egypt calling for free and fair elections as well as an end to President Hosni Mubarak`s 30-year rule, U.S. President Barack Obama and other top officials have oftentimes made public calls, at first for immediate transition but days later for orderly transition.
In his latest phone call to his Egyptian counterpart Omar Suleiman on Tuesday, U.S. Vice President Joe Biden called for an orderly transition in Egypt that is "prompt, meaningful, peaceful, and legitimate." He demanded, among others, that the Egyptian government immediately rescind the emergency law and invite the opposition as a partner in jointly developing a roadmap and timetable for transition.
Abul Gheit told PBS that Biden`s advice is not helpful at all, saying "When I read it this morning I was really amazed because right now, as we speak, we have 17,000 prisoners loose in the streets out of jails that have been destroyed. How can you ask me to sort of disband that emergency law while I`m in difficulty?"
"Give me time, allow me to have control to stabilize the nation, to stabilize the state and then we would look into the issue," he added.
Abul Gheit first hit back on Sunday against foreign interference, saying that the Egyptian government rejected any outside dictates, especially from the Western countries. He told reporters that " Egypt is under no one`s mandate."
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Editor: Aditia Maruli Radja
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
