Cario, January 30: Several Western countries have called on Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak to prevent bloodshed against protesters and fulfill his pledges for reform.
“It is essential that the further political, economic and social reforms President Mubarak has promised are implemented fully and quickly, and meet the aspirations of the Egyptian people,” said a joint statement by British Prime Minister David Cameron, French President Nicolas Sarkozy and German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Saturday.
Acknowledging the “moderating role” played by Mubarak in the Middle East, the Western leaders urged him to “show the same moderation” in Egypt and allow people to demonstrate peacefully.
They also called for “full respect for human rights and democratic freedoms, including freedom of expression and communication.”
“The Egyptian people have … a longing for a just and better future. We urge President Mubarak to embark on a process of transformation, which should be reflected in a board-based government and in free and fair elections,” the statement continued.
The joint statement comes as anti-government protests continue to paralyze daily life in Egypt.
Earlier, US President Barack Obama renewed his call on Mubarak to embrace reforms.
At least 100 Egyptians were killed and more than 2,000 others injured during bloody clashes over the past week.
——–Agencies
——–Agencies