WASHINGTON, July 9 (Reuters) - The United States is encouraged that Egypt's interim government has "laid out a plan for the path forward," a U.S. official said on Tuesday when asked about the government's intention to hold parliamentary elections in about six months.

The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, made clear the United States would react with some caution to the plan for quick elections, unveiled a day after 55 people were killed when troops fired on a crowd supporting Egypt's ousted President Mohamed Mursi. (Reporting by Arshad Mohammed; Editing by Bill Trott)