Mullen confident in Egypt's military

WASHINGTON, Feb. 2 (UPI) -- Adm. Michael Mullen, chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, again expressed his confidence in the Egyptian military and called for calm in the region.

Mullen spoke by phone Wednesday with his Egyptian counterpart, Army Lt. Gen. Sami Enan, reiterating his desire for a return to calm as well as his conviction that the Egyptian military can provide for Egypt's security, both internally and throughout the Suez Canal area, the Defense Department said in a release.

The two military leaders have spoken twice since Enan returned to Cairo from Washington last week.

Enan "assures me that they're very focused on this, and they will continue to be a stabilizing influence within their country," Mullen said.

Wednesday was the ninth day of anti-government protests in Cairo and other cities. The protesters said they want President Hosni Mubarak, 82, to immediately end his three decades of rule. Mubarak said Tuesday he would not seek re-election.