Gates Urges Middle East Countries to Begin Reforms

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Tuesday the unrest in Tunisia and Egypt was a spontaneous manifestation of discontent and urged other countries in the region to take heed and begin needed political and economic reforms.

"My hope would be that other governments in the region -- seeing this spontaneous action in both Tunisia and in Egypt -- will take measures to begin moving in a positive direction toward addressing the political and economic grievances of their people," Gates told a news conference.

(Reporting by Phil Stewart and David Alexander)