U.S. 'Very Concerned' about Situation on Ground in Egypt

The United States said Wednesday it was "very concerned" about developments in Egypt's political crisis, and urged President Mohammed Morsi to "do more" to address the concerns of protesters.

"We do remain very concerned about what we are seeing on the ground in Egypt," State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said. "We feel there was an absence of significant steps laid out by President Morsi."

Washington believes he "should do more" to address the concerns of the Egyptian people, she told reporters, noting: "Actions speaker louder than words."

Psaki said Morsi's proposal for a unity government was one that had been "made in the past," and which "others in Egypt felt was not sufficient enough."

She however was careful to note that it was not up to Washington to judge.

When asked if Washington would consider cutting military aid to Cairo, the spokeswoman said: "It would be premature to suggest that we have taken steps or are thinking about taking steps."

Meanwhile, U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel spoke by telephone to his Egyptian counterpart after the army issued an ultimatum to Egypt's embattled president to meet the demands of his people, the Pentagon said Wednesday.

Pentagon spokesman George Little offered no details about Hagel's conversation on Tuesday with army chief and defense minister General Abdel Fattah al-Sisi.

But Little told reporters the United States has conveyed to Egyptian leaders that Washington supports "the democratic process" and does not back any particular side in the unfolding political crisis.

"U.S. officials at all levels have made it clear that we support the democratic process in Egypt and that we hope that this period of tension can be resolved in a peaceful manner and that violence can be avoided," Little said.

"We don't support any single party or group. We believe that this needs to be resolved through political means."

With crowds pouring onto the street to demand Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi's resignation, Hagel's conversation followed a previously undisclosed phone call with Sisi late last week, Little said.

Asked why the Pentagon had not publicly announced last week's phone call until Wednesday, Little cited the "sensitivities of this situation."

The Egyptian military issued a 48-hour deadline on Monday for Morsi to meet the "people's demands", a day after millions of protesters took to the streets across the country calling for him to resign.

The U.S. top brass has long-standing ties to Egypt's armed forces after decades of American military assistance and officials say the relationship helped pave the way for the peaceful end of ex-president Hosni Mubarak's rule in 2011.

"Historically, the department has a very close relationship with the Egyptian military," Little said.

"We've had good contacts for many years with senior Egyptian military officials. We hope that after this crisis is over and hopefully after it's resolved we can maintain that relationship," he said.

After days of street clashes that have claimed nearly 50 people, the Pentagon had not been ordered to provide any emergency military support to U.S. diplomats posted in Cairo, he said.

President Barack Obama has proposed providing $1.3 billion in military aid to Egypt in fiscal year 2014.