The White House is not outright knocking down a report by The New York Times that says the U.S. is negotiating a deal "for President Hosni Mubarak to resign immediately, turning over power to a transitional government headed by Vice President Omar Suleiman," but the administration is making it clear that the story is a bit incomplete.
An administration official tells The File, "It's simply wrong to report that there's a single U.S. plan that's being negotiated with the Egyptians."
It is a sensitive time, with many people speculating that Mubarak is about to send in his storm troopers to clear Liberation Square of the peaceful protesters who have staked out that area to demand that the Egyptian despot resign immediately. Working journalists and celebrity broadcasters like Brian Williams are hiding out tonight for fear of being the targets of the angry mob.
The U.S., meanwhile, has discussed several options to move Egypt towards democratic reforms, but it remains in the hands of the Egyptian people to decide their own fate.
"The President has said that now is the time to begin a peaceful, orderly and meaningful transition, with credible, inclusive negotiations. We have discussed with the Egyptians a variety of different ways to move that process forward, but all of those decisions must be made by the Egyptian people," said National Security Council Spokesman Tommy Vietor.
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