Europe Demands Immediate Transition of Power in Egypt

An Egyptian protester injured in the head is taken away for treatment, as supporters and opponents of President Hosni Mubarak clashed in some parts of the Tahrir square, Cairo, Egypt, 03 February 2011. Photo by EPA/BGNES

The leaders of France, Germany, Italy, Spain and UK have called for "a rapid and peaceful transition to a broad-based government" in Egypt in a joint statement.

The statement from French President Nicolas Sarkozy, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, British Prime Minister David Cameron, Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi and Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero said they are watching the unrest in Egypt with deep concern and condemned "all those who use or encourage violence, which will only aggravate the political crisis in Egypt."

"That transition process must start now," it said.

Commenting on reports that journalists covering Egypt's unrest have been beaten, hit with pepper spray and threatened by Mubarak loyalists, the European leaders said such attacks are "completely unacceptable."

"We condemn all those who use or encourage violence, which will only aggravate the political crisis in Egypt," the statement added.

Meanwhile EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton said Thursday that Egyptian authorities are accountable if they fail to protect peaceful demonstrators.

The statements came after violent clashes erupted between pro- and anti-government demonstrators in Cairo's Tahrir Square, leaving five people killed and several hundred wounded.

The protesters are demanding that President Hosni Mubarak, who has ruled for 30 years, step down immediately. They claim Mubarak has hired thugs and plainclothes police to crush their nine-day-old movement.

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