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Summary
The United States on Thursday urged the Egyptian government to start talks immediately with the opposition on the handover of power, while strongly denouncing attacks on journalists and others.Secretary of State Hillary Clinton showed zero-tolerance for the assault on the media, which officials charge is an orchestrated effort to snuff out coverage of the anti-government unrest sweeping Egypt for the 10th day. The chief US diplomat also stepped up the pressure on Omar Suleiman, named President Hosni Mubarak's first-ever vice president last week, to follow through on promises of change.The Egyptian leader said in an interview on Thursday that he would like to step aside, but he feared the country would be engulfed in chaos. Echoing a wave of international concern over worsening violence, Clinton condemned in the strongest terms attacks on reporters covering the unrest, peaceful protesters, human rights activists, and foreigners.
