"Washington seems to be trying to impose its will on Cairo"
The US has stepped out its pressure against the Egyptian government saying it had not met even a minimum threshold of reforms demanded by the people of the country.
President Barack Obama's spokesman Robert Gibbs warned on Wednesday that massive protests will likely continue until real reforms are instituted. He suggested that some Egyptian leaders thought they could wait out the protesters by offering up some concessions and assuming "life will return to normal."
"I think that's largely been answered by a greater number of people, representing a greater cross-section of Egyptian society, who have come out seeking their grievances to be addressed," Gibbs told reporters.
Anti- government protests in Egypt have entered their third week calling for the ouster of President Hosni Mubarak.
Critics accuse Washington of double standard for it remained a key, reliable ally of Egypt for decades, before changing rhetoric in the past few weeks as protests grew stronger.
Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit rejected US calls for the immediate repeal of its emergency law and said Washington seemed to be trying to impose its will on Cairo. Asked if he viewed the advice provided by Joe Biden, the US vice-president, as helpful, Aboul Gheit told the PBS NewsHour program "not at all,” according to an interview transcript provided by the US TV broadcaster on Wednesday.
Egypt's newly appointed Culture Minister Gaber Asfour has resigned on Wednesday just nine days after he joined the cabinet in a reshuffle that was prompted by mounting demonstrations. Asfour has said he quit because of medical reasons. However, there is no official comment on the resignation so far.
The sixteenth day of the deadly demonstrations turned more violent on Wednesday with security forces using live bullets to disperse the outraged protesters in the small town of Kharga.
Kharga police denied permit for a peaceful demonstration and clamped down on protesters, killing at least five people and injuring hundreds others.
On Wednesday, Cairo's Liberation Square remained flooded with demonstrators who have vowed not to go home until Mubarak steps down.
