Obama says peaceful Egyptians inspired US; lauds beginning of transition

WASHINGTON: President Barack Obama on Friday reacted to the momentous moment of democracy in Egypt with warm appreciation for nonviolent ways the Egyptian protestors adhered to in pressing their universal rights, saying peaceful demonstrations inspired the Americans. As Egyptians continued their festivities after resignation of longtime ruler Hosni Mubarak in the wake of unprecedented 18-day demonstrations across the Arab country, Obama said "the people of Egypt have spoken. Their voices have been heard. And Egypt will never be the same. "In remarks beamed live from the White House, Obama, however, stressed it was "not the end of Egypt's transition, it's the beginning." "I'm confident the people of Egypt can find the answers," Obama said of many things that remain to be sorted out for a successful democratic transition in Cairo. "Egyptians have inspired us, and they've done so by putting the lie to the idea that justice is best gained by violence.”For Egypt, it was the moral force of nonviolence, not terrorism, not mindless killing, but nonviolence, moral force, that bent the arc of history toward justice once more," Obama reflected.