Obama says Egypt transition must 'begin now'

After Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak said on Tuesday he would stay in power for months until stepping down by the next election, President Barack Obama called for a new government in Egypt and said an orderly transition must be meaningful, peaceful and begin now.

Obama said in a speech from the White House that only the Egyptian people can decide to make those changes.

The comments come shortly after Mubarak spoke in video statement, saying he would step down months from now, helping enact reforms that people were asking for.

I was not intent on standing for the next elections because I have spent enough time serving Egypt and am now careful to conclude my work for Egypt by presenting Egypt to the next government in a constitutional way, he said.

Protesters were defiant during and after the speech, according to a report.Leave, leave leave, down, down, down Hosni Mubarak, protesters were heard as saying after during the speech, according to CNN.

Obama also spoke to young people in Egypt during his brief statement.

We hear your voices I have an unyielding belief that you will determine your own destiny, he said.

Many questions remain unanswered, but I am confident the people will find those answers, he said.