No need to fear from democracy in Egypt: US

Washington: The United States today said that there is "no need to fear" from democracy in Egypt as a section of Americans expressed apprehension that the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood might grab power through ballot.

"I don't think we have to fear democracy. I think that whenever the will of the people shapes the demands of those that govern it, that's what many had in mind with democracy and representation," outgoing Press Secretary Robert Gibbs

told reporters at his last press conference.

Ending the 30-year-old despotic regime in the most populous Arab nation, President Hosni Mubarak finally resigned yesterday and delegated power to the military.

"We don't know the ultimate outcome of what free and fair elections (in Egypt) will be. We don't have a sense of who that next leader will be. But we will continue to have important relationships. This is a volatile region of the

world. The relationships bilaterally that we have bring some measure of stability and peace to the region," Gibbs asserted.

"Obviously, there's still great work to do to bring peace throughout this region, and the (US) President has worked tirelessly with the team on that. But there will be many days ahead to see what comes next here. It's important.

We will continue to talk about, as we did with the Egyptian government, of the universal values that we hold dear," he said. "I don't think we have to fear democracy," Gibbs said, adding this was a group of demonstrations and protests that demonstrated the breadth of concern across Egyptian society.

"So I think what you've seen is the breadth of cause and concern that had to have been addressed, needed to be addressed by the government, and I think today was the very first step in that process," he asserted.

The White House Press Secretary said in the past 18 days the world has seen sweeping change which is unlike anything they it has ever seen in a short period of time.

"I think the next process of this is going to play out over a much longer arc. We will continue to be involved and to ensure that the transitional government in Egypt and ultimately the government that the people choose to represent

the people of Egypt," he said.

"If they take the steps that are necessary to meet the concerns of those in Egypt, then this government will be a strong partner to it and to all of our friends in the region," Gibbs said.