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Cameron warns Mubarak against using 'state-sponsored violence'

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

London, Feb 4, IRNA -- Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak received his strongest warning to date from British Prime Minister David Cameron Friday against the hiring thugs to beat up protesters on the streets of Cairo.

“If we see on the streets of Cairo today state-sponsored violence or the hiring of thugs to beat up protesters, then Egypt and its regime would lose any remaining credibility and support it has in the eyes of the watching world, including Britain,” Cameron said.

“We have been clear that Egypt should be taking steps to show there is a clear, credible, transparent path towards transition, and frankly the steps taken so far haven’t met the aspirations of the Egyptian people,” he said.
His warning came as thousands of Egyptian protesters gathered again in Cairo's Tahrir Square for a 'day of departure' rally aimed at ousting Mubarak and as EU leaders were holding a summit in Brussels.
“Today Europe’s leaders have got to show they stand ready to help and support that orderly tradition… orderly transition and actually come together and do that,” Cameron told the BBC.

On Thursday, the leaders of the Britain, French, German, Italian and Spanish governments stopped short in calling for the Egyptian president to stand down when issuing an unprecedented statement calling for a 'quick” transition of power.
“Only a quick and orderly transition to a broad-based government will make it possible to overcome the challenges Egypt is now facing. That transition process must start now,” their joint statement warned.

The New York Times reported Friday that US President Barack Obama was working on his latest plan in which Mubarak would stand down immediately but would be replaced by a transitional government headed by the Egyptian vice-president Omar Suleiman. The previous plan for the Egyptian president not to stand in the next elections due in September was rejected by protesters, demanding that he should go immediately.