EU President Joins Calls for Peace in Egypt

Even though the Egyptian government officially resigned Saturday, protesters continues to rally the streets demanding the resignation of President Hosni Mubarak. Photo by EPA/BGNES

European Union head Herman Van Rompuy ahs called for an end to the violence and bloodshed in Egypt, where protests against President Hosni Mubarak have left more than 30 people dead.

“I am deeply troubled by the spiral of violence leading to a situation which makes dialogue even more difficult,” the EU President said in a statement Saturday.

Hundreds of people have been rallying on the streets in Egypt since Tuesday demanding the resignation of the president.

The Egyptian cabinet officially resigned earlier Saturday, but people are still protesting on the streets, defying a curfew.

“The respect for fundamental human rights, such as the freedom of expression, the right to communicate, and the right of free assembly, as well as social inclusion are constituent elements of democracy which the Egyptian people, and in particular the young, are striving for,” the EU President said.

The statement said that history has shown that dialogue can also lead to change if there is a conductive environment, without the use of force or a military crackdown.

“I therefore call for the cessation of violence to stop bloodshed, the release of all those arrested or under house arrest for political reasons, including political figures, and to set the necessary reform process in motion. I sincerely hope that the promises of openness by President Mubarak will translate into concrete action,” Van Rampuy said.

US President Barack Obama has telephoned Mubarak and told him he must give meaning to his pledges of greater democratic and economic freedom, the BBC reported.

Obama said violent response by Egyptian authorities would not address the grievances of the people, and he also asked protesters to desist from violence. He called on the Egyptian government to stop interfering with the Internet, social networking sites, and mobile phone services.

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