Ex-US ambassador in Egypt amid turmoil

WASHINGTON: Former US ambassador to Egypt, Frank Wisner, has returned to Cairo to meet senior officials and discuss the crisis gripping the biggest Arab nation, the State Department said Monday.

But a spokesman stressed Wisner was not an official envoy from President Barack Obama's administration, noting he was a "private citizen" who travels frequently to Cairo for business.

But Wisner "will have the opportunity to reinforce what we've already said" during his stay, State Department spokesman Philip Crowley said.

"Given his expertise, we have asked him to add his perspective to our analysis on current developments... And we look forward to hearing his views when he returns."

The White House meanwhile said it was pleased with the "restraint" shown by Egypt's security forces against demonstrators and urged calm ahead of mass protests expected to take place in the country on Tuesday.

White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said there had been a number of contacts between the US and Egyptian governments during the week-long protests against President Hosni Mubarak's rule.

But he stood by Washington's stance on the uprising so far: refusing to be drawn into calling for Mubarak to step down, as the United States argues for an orderly transition towards democracy.

Crowley said it was not up to Washington to dictate the outcome of the crisis, which he said belongs to the Egyptians alone.