WASHINGTON, June 24: The White House said on Sunday that it was looking forward to working with Egypt’s President-elect Mohamed Morsi and the government he forms, as a senior US lawmaker urged Americans not to ‘prejudge’ the new leader.

Working on the basis of mutual respect, Washington wanted to “advance the many shared interests between Egypt and the United States,” said White House Press Secretary Jay Carney.

“We believe that it is important for President-elect Morsi to take steps at this historic time to advance national unity by reaching out to all parties and constituencies in consultations about the formation of a new government, the White House said.

“We believe in the importance of the new Egyptian government upholding universal values, and respecting the rights of all Egyptian citizens – including women and religious minorities such as Coptic Christians.”

Mr Carney said the US wanted to work with all parties within Egypt to sustain its long-standing partnership with the country as it consolidates its democracy and was looking forward to the completion of a transition to a democratically-elected government.

Earlier, Senator John Kerry, who heads the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee, urged the Americans not to ‘prejudge’ the Muslim Brotherhood government in Egypt.

In a statement issued by his office, Senator Kerry said that during his recent visits to Cairo, he had two “candid discussions” with the new Egyptian president, Mohamed Morsi.

The Egyptian leader told him he “understood the importance of Egypt’s post-revolutionary relationships with America and Israel,” Senator Kerry said. “It would be a mistake for us to pull back from our engagement with a free and democratic Egypt.

This is a time to test intentions not to prejudge them.”

Senator Kerry noted that American concerns about the Muslim Brotherhood’s past statements and positions were widely shared and well understood but urged Americans to understand that Mr Morsi was elected by the Egyptian people.

“Ultimately, just as it is anywhere in the world, actions will matter more than words” but Mr Morsi’s “words suggest he understands the gravity of the challenges facing Egypt,” Senator Kerry added.