Gates spoke to Field Marshal Mohammed Hussein Tantawi in the "fourth phone conversation with the Egyptian defense minister since the situation in Egypt began," press secretary Geoff Morrell said in a statement.

Gates' office provided no further details of his talks, which coincided with signs the United States was examining a range of options to persuade President Hosni Mubarak to step down after days of mass street protests against his 30-year-rule.

The US government views Tantawi as a key player in any post-Mubarak administration, and the defense minister paid a visit Friday to the epicenter of the protests in Cairo's central Tahrir Square.

Tantawi appealed to the crowd to give up their protest in the light of Mubarak's pledge earlier this week not to seek re-election in September.

"The man (Mubarak) told you he won't stand again," Tantawi told the protesters flanked by troops.

He urged opposition leaders to join talks with the government on a political transition.

With Washington's longstanding ties to the Egyptian military, US officials have pinned their hopes on the army steering the country out of the crisis.

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