A failed assassination attempt on Egyptian Vice President Omar Suleiman in recent days left two of his bodyguards dead, Fox News reported Saturday.
According to Fox News, a senior Obama administration official confirmed that the attack occurred soon after Suleiman was appointed on Jan. 29 as part of the effort to quell the anti-government protests .The official described it as an organized attack on Suleiman's motorcade.
"It's amazing this hasn't been picked up ... because he is the transition plan, or at least one of them for the Egyptians," the official was quoted as saying.
White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs declined to address the assassination reports.
A senior Egyptian security source denied the report.
Despite being named as a possible candidate to temporarily replace President Hosni Mubarak, Suleiman does not enjoy broad support in Egypt because he represents the "old regime" and frequently visited Israel during his tenure as intelligence chief.
On Friday US President Barack Obama said the transition of power in Egypt must begin now but the details of the process have to be worked out by Egyptians.
"The future of Egypt will be determined by its people," Obama said at a joint news conference with visiting Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper.
News agencies contributed to the report