EU leaders stop short of calling for Mubarak's resignation
IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency
Berlin, Feb 4, IRNA -- The European Union called for an immediate transfer of power to a democratic Egyptian government but stopped short of calling for the resignation of President Hosni Mubarak.
'All parties should ... begin an orderly transition to a broad based government. The (EU summit) underlined that this transition process must start now,' EU leaders said in a joint statement released in Brussels.
The final declaration did not openly call for Mubarak to step down.
The European Council reiterated its 'utmost concern over the deteriorating situation in Egypt.'
It condemned in 'the strongest terms the violence and all those who use and encourage violence.'
The European leaders emphasised the right of all citizens 'to demonstrate freely and peacefully, under due protection from law enforcement authorities.'
They added, 'Any attempt to restrict the free flow of information, including aggression and intimidation directed against journalists and human rights defenders, is unacceptable.'
The European Council called on the Egyptian authorities to meet the aspirations of the Egyptian people with 'political reform not repression.'
It stressed the citizens' democratic aspirations should be addressed through 'dialogue and political reform with full respect to human rights and fundamental freedoms, and through free and fair elections.'
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