EU Urges Restraint in Egypt as UK, Germany and France Condemn Use of Force
European Union foreign affairs chief Catherine Ashton on Wednesday urged "utmost restraint" from Egypt's security forces following a deadly crackdown on supporters of ousted president Mohammed Morsi.
"Confrontation and violence is not the way forward to resolve key political issues," Ashton said in a statement.
"I deplore the loss of lives, injuries and destruction in Cairo and other places in Egypt," she said.
"I call on the security forces to exercise utmost restraint and on all Egyptian citizens to avoid further provocations and escalation.
"At the same time all sides must take responsibility for the orderly conduct of demonstrations and an end to incitement," Ashton added.
More than 120 people were killed in Cairo when security forces moved in to disperse two protest camps set up by supporters of the ousted president.
"The country's democratic future will depend on a dialogue among all concerned aimed at overcoming differences," Ashton's statement said.
The head of the European Parliament, Martin Schulz, said in a separate statement that the reported casualties were "not acceptable".
Schulz called on the authorities "to ensure that all Egyptian people, regardless of their political views, are allowed to demonstrate peacefully.
"It's the government's responsibility to find a peaceful and fair solution to the current crisis towards an inclusive political process and reconciliation," he said.
Britain also condemned the use of force by the Egyptian police, and called for restraint.
"I am deeply concerned at the escalating violence and unrest in Egypt, and regret the loss of life on all sides," Foreign Secretary William Hague said in a statement.
"I condemn the use of force in clearing protests and call on the security forces to act with restraint.
Hague added: "The UK has been closely involved in intensive diplomatic efforts directed at reaching a peaceful resolution to the standoff.
"I am disappointed that compromise has not been possible."
Hague called on leaders on all sides to work to prevent future violence.
Meanwhile, German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle urged supporters of Egypt's interim government and its ousted president Morsi to renounce violence amid a deadly crackdown on protests Wednesday.
"We call on all political forces to return immediately to negotiations and avert an escalation of violence," he told reporters. "All further bloodshed must be prevented."
Westerwelle called on all sides to "return to a political process that includes all political forces".
"We urge the interim government and the Egyptian authorities to allow peaceful protests and at the same time we expect from the other forces that they distance themselves from violence, do not call for violence and do not use violence," he said.
Speaking of a "very dangerous situation," Westerwelle said Berlin had conveyed this "clear expectation to the Egyptian side" directly.
He also urged Germans to respect fresh travel warnings from his ministry, in particular to avoid public protests.
On Wednesday evening, France called for "an immediate halt to the crackdown" in Egypt and urged the United Nations and its partners to take a joint stand, French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said.
"France condemns most resolutely the bloody violence in Egypt and demands an immediate halt to the crackdown," Fabius said.
The minister reached out to "U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon as well as our main partners so that an international position can be taken urgently" on the issue.
Source: Agence France Presse
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