Obama to make statement on Egypt

WASHINGTON: US President Barack Obama was to make a statement at 2320 GMT on Friday on the situation in Egypt, White House officials said in a statement.

Obama had spoken with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak for 30 minutes by telephone shortly before he was to deliver his statement, a US official said, asking to remain anonymous.

The US leader was to speak shortly after Mubarak sacked his government and vowed to introduce democratic and economic reforms to his country.

Obama was to deliver his statement on Egypt -- a key US ally in the troubled Middle East region -- in the State Dining room of the White House.