Washington (CNN) -- As they talked publicly in generalities about a smooth transition to a new government in Egypt, U.S. officials have been working behind the scenes on ways to "move that process forward," a national security spokesman said. Top members of the Obama administration stated Thursday their desire for embattled Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak to leave office and for inclusive negotiations to begin immediately with his political opponents. National Security Council spokesman Tommy Vietor added that U.S. officials have also discussed with Egyptian officials "a variety of different ways" in which that new government could take shape. But Vietor stressed "all of those decisions must be made by the Egyptian people."
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NEW: A U.S. official says Egypt's government and the opposition should talk now
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NEW: An Egyptian official chastises the U.S. for "vague" statements on the transition
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U.S., Egyptian officials discuss ways to "move" the political process, a spokesman says
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U.S. officials, lawmakers have upped their public pressure on Mubarak's government
"Institutionally, there is support in Egypt for this roadmap among the military, vice president and prime minister," said the @placeholder official.