Democracy will make Middle East more stable: Obama

WASHINGTON - US President Barack Obama told key foreign leaders that democracy will help stabilize the Middle East amid uncertainty about Egypt’s future after President Hosni Mubarak was toppled.

Obama Saturday telephoned British Prime Minister David Cameron, King Abdullah of Jordan and Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan to discuss developments in Egypt, the White House announced.

After Mubarak stepped down Friday, a military council named to rule in the interim on Saturday vowed a “peaceful transition” to free elections and civilian democracy. The military said that Egypt’s past international agreements would be respected, most crucially the peace with Israel.

In Saturday’s calls to international leaders, Obama “emphasized his conviction that democracy will bring more - not less - stability to the region”, the White House press secretary said in a statement.

Obama hailed the change in Egypt and reiterated admiration for what the Egyptian people had peacefully achieved. He welcomed the support voiced by the Egyptian military for democratic transition and peace with Israel.

The White House said that Obama and the leaders he spoke with “agreed on the importance of a peaceful transition to a democratic government that is responsive to the aspirations of the Egyptian people, and agreed to work closely together going forward.”

Obama vowed to provide whatever support is sought by the Egyptian people.