The United States said Tuesday it was "cautiously encouraged" by a timeline proposed by Egypt’s interim rulers for elections to replace ousted president Mohammad Mursi

The United States said Tuesday it was "cautiously encouraged" by a timeline proposed by Egypt's interim rulers for elections to replace ousted president Mohammad Mursi.
  
Washington also again walked a fine line on the issue of whether it would brand the military takeover as a "coup" -- a move that under US law would force it to cut $1.5 billion in US aid.
  
White House says it will take its time on making such a judgment, seeking to preserve the limited leverage it has amid turbulent political events in Egypt. "We are cautiously encouraged by the announcement by the interim government that it (has) a potential plan for moving forward with a democratic process and elections, both parliamentary and presidential," said White House spokesman Jay Carney.
  
"We call on all parties to engage in a dialogue about that process and not to, you know, refuse to participate."

President Barack Obama on Tuesday reached out to several key leaders in the region, calling Qatar's new emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani and Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed Al-Nahayan. He urged the leaders to use their influence in Egypt to press each side in the political standoff to avoid violence and to hasten the return of a democratic government.