President Obama welcomes commitments from military

Associated Press

WASHINGTON

President Barack Obama welcomed commitments Saturday from Egypt’s new military rulers to eventually hand power to an elected civilian government and abide by a peace treaty with Israel.

A day after the resignation of Egypt’s longtime leader, Hosni Mubarak, Obama worked the phones with world leaders, reaffirming his support for the people of Egypt whose 18 days of protests led to Mubarak’s ouster. Obama pledged U.S. assistance and financial support as Egypt moves toward free and fair elections, the White House said.

Egypt’s military is now running the country after Mubarak’s resignation. Its pledges Saturday to follow the international treaties the Mubarak government entered into were lauded not only in the U.S., but also in Israel, where leaders were concerned the turmoil in Egypt could threaten the peace accord between the two countries.