Turkey's Erdogan Sides With Egyptian People

Turkish prime minister RT Erdogan has come out in support of Egyptian protesters and urged Mubarak to meet their demands.

"  It is our greatest wish to see that both the people and the government act with a similar sense of responsibility and with a dignity that befits the peoples of the region, to shoulder a change that will satisfy all sectors in Egypt, and that will carry the freedoms and democracy to the highest standards,"   Mr. Erdogan said. "  Turkey will continue to remain on the side of the brotherly peoples of Egypt and Tunisia, and to share their sorrow, joy, and hopes."

Washington hasn't called on Mubarak to actually step down.  No Western leader has.   The White House does call for democratic reform, an orderly transition, and today urged Mubarak not to stand for re-election.   The Euros are taking a similar, ambiguous position.  Iran has announced that it supports the protesters, perhaps seeing the uprising as similar to the revolution in which the Shah was toppled.

The one exception is Israel which has criticized the EU and the US for "dumping an ally."

"For the United States, Egypt is the keystone of its Middle East policy, ” a senior Israeli official told The New York Times. “ For Israel, it’s the whole arch. ”