Washington expressed concern earlier this week over the arrest of dozens of Egyptians at a pro-reform rally, adding that Egyptians should be allowed to freely choose their next president -- a point that Cairo said was made in "a manner that goes beyond convention and which Egypt finds unacceptable."
Crowley, who did not mention Egypt's official criticism, was replying to a question about the pro-reform activists.
"We continue to support free elections in Egypt and continue to make that clear to the government of Egypt," he said, adding it was "part of our ongoing dialogue with Egypt."
The activists arrested at the central Cairo rally on Tuesday have all been released. Witnesses at the protest said police beat and dragged the activists and confiscated reporters' cameras.
Mubarak, a close US ally who has rebuffed foreign calls for reform, is facing mounting opposition at home after nearly three decades in power with emergency laws.
Former UN nuclear watchdog chief Mohamed ElBaradei, 67, has said he is willing to stand against Mubarak in 2011 on condition that the election is free and fair and that the constitution is revised to ease candidacy restrictions.
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