Egypt Official: White House Demands Contradictory

WASHINGTON (AP) - An Egyptian official, speaking for his government, is complaining that the U.S. is pressing for President Hosni Mubarak's swift departure even as the White House publicly urges an orderly transition.

The official, speaking from a location outside Egypt, also told The Associated Press on Wednesday that Mubarak's decision not to seek re-election in September was not a result of pressure from President Barack Obama, who has spoken with the Egyptian leader twice since the street uprising began more than a week ago.

The official said in the statement: "There is a clear contradiction between an orderly process of transition and the insistence that this process be rushed."

The official spoke on condition of anonymity, saying his government would not allow him to associate his name with the statement.

He said Mubarak, in addition to agreeing not to run again, had appointed a vice president, stated his readiness for dialogue with the opposition and promised changes in the constitution.

"All of those things can't be done if there is a vacuum at the top," the official said.