Joe Biden calls Omar Suleiman, seeks immediate steps on reforms

US vice-president Joe Biden called his Egyptian counterpart Omar Suleiman to stress the need for "immediate steps" which demonstrate the Egyptian government's commitment to reforms, the White House has said.

In his second call to Suleiman this week, Biden asked his Egyptian counterpart about the progress in beginning credible, inclusive negotiations for Egypt's transition to a democratic government to address aspirations of the Egyptian people.

"He stressed the need for a concrete reform agenda, a clear timeline, and immediate steps that demonstrate to the public and the opposition that the Egyptian government is committed to reform," the White House said yesterday.

During the telephonic conversation, Biden expressed concern about continued raids on civil society and called for the immediate release of journalists, activists, and human rights advocates who have been detained without cause, the White House said.

Biden's last call to Suleiman, the newly appointed Egyptian vice-president, was on Thursday when he said that the Egyptian government is responsible for ensuring that peaceful demonstrations don't lead to violence.