U.S. President Barack Obama expressed during a phone call on Friday (January 20) with Field Marshal Tantāwī over the crackdown launched by the government in Egypt on the civil society organizations, underlining the importance of the role played by NGOs.

Obama reiterated support of the United States for Egypt's transition to democracy as the two sides agreed on continued contacts during the next few months. [Fātimah Zaydan and Sūzān 'Ātif, al-Misrī al-Yawm, Jan. 23, p. 1]