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Top Mubarak rival: Reform and resign

Despite government concessions on press freedom and detainees, opposition groups clashing with Egypt’s reeling government said yesterday that the gestures are empty without the resignation of embattled President Hosni Mubarak.

“There is a huge lack of confidence between the government and the demonstrators,” Egyptian opposition leader Mohamed ElBaradei said on NBC’s “Meet the Press.”

“There is a good deal of fear that the government will retrench and then come back again, with vengeance.”

Meanwhile, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton — returning yesterday from a conference in Munich — told reporters that forcing Mubarak to leave office quickly could complicate the enormous challenges Egypt faces in transforming to democracy.

ElBaradei detailed his skepticism as Egypt’s new vice president met for the first time yesterday with a broad representation of major opposition groups.

Omar Suleiman, who was appointed VP just days ago, offered to set up a committee to study proposed constitutional reforms that would allow more candidates to run for president and impose term limits on the presidency, the state news agency reported.

Mubarak, 82, said last week that he would not seek re-election, but would stay in office until his term expires in September.

Suleiman’s offer on behalf of the government included a pledge not to harass anti-government protesters. The government also agreed not to interfere with text messaging and the Internet.

“We want the young people to know that all your demands, all your requests, we will respond positively and we promise that we will do,” Suleiman said on ABC’s “This Week.”

smiller@nypost.com