(CNN) -- U.S. armed forces leaders continued high-level talks Sunday with their Egyptian counterparts, applauding their "continued professionalism" and reaffirming the two militaries' partnership, a spokesman said.
U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates has talked by phone this weekend with Egyptian Defense Minister Mohamed Hussein Tantawi, as well as Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak, according to Pentagon spokesman Geoff Morrel.
Also, Egyptian Lt. Gen. Sami Enan spoke Sunday afternoon with his equivalent in the United States, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Adm. Mike Mullen, according to Mullen's spokesman.
Mullen got an update from Enan on the situation in Egypt, and "expressed his appreciation for the continued professionalism of the Egyptian military," said Capt. John Kirby, his spokesman.
"Both men reaffirmed their desire to see the partnership between our two militaries continue, and they pledged to stay in touch," Kirby added.
These contacts came as Western diplomats continued to sound off on the situation in Egypt, where widespread lawlessness was reported following massive demonstrations calling for the ouster of President Hosni Mubarak. CNN
