EGYPT: European leaders praise Mubarak departure

French President Nicolas Sarkozy urged Egyptian leaders Friday to take steps toward free elections following Hosni Mubarak's resignation.

“France ardently hopes the new Egyptian authorities will take steps that lead to establishment of democratic institutions through free and transparent elections,” Sarkozy said in a statement issued by his Elysee Palace office, according to Reuters.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel also praised Mubarak's departure on CNN, saying, “It is necessary that this development is irreversible and that it leads to a freer Egypt," and adding, "At the end of this process, there must be free elections."

British Prime Minister David Cameron told Reuters that Friday was "a remarkable day, particularly for those people in Tahrir Square and elsewhere, who have spoken out so bravely and so peacefully for change in their country."

"Egypt now has a really precious moment of opportunity to have a government that can bring the country together, and as a friend of Egypt and the Egyptian people, we stand ready to help in any way that we can," Cameron said.

European Union Foreign Policy Chief Catherine Ashton said the EU also supports Mubarak's resignation.

"By standing down, he has listened to the voices of the Egyptian people and has opened the way to faster and deeper reforms," Ashton told Reuters. "It is important now that the dialogue is accelerated, leading to a broad-based government which will respect the aspirations of, and deliver stability for, the Egyptian people."

--  Molly Hennessy-Fiske

Photo: Egyptians celebrate the news of the resignation of President Hosni Mubarak, who handed control of the country to the military, in front of the Egyptian museum in Cairo's Tahrir Square on Friday. Credit: Ben Curtis / Associated Press

Comments

[felix obuka okoro]

The playout in Egypt is a food for thought to All African Leaders. people like Gaddaffi, Mugabe and Pual Beer Should know that Manternity is to woman while war is to man. If God reject you your people will reject too.I salute the Brave and couragous Egypians.Bravo to you All.

[Peter]

I've said so for many, many years. It was also one of the reasons that I left my country back in the 80s.

[Nikos Retsos]

I believe the U.S. pushed the Egyptian military to jettison Mubarak. But the U.S. also wants a continuation of Mubarak's policies - as it does Israel. But that is NOT what the Egyptian people wanted.

Now we have to wait and see what kind of regime the U.S. and Israel will morph inside Egypt. And let's not forget the Mubarak cronies are still running the government, and the 30 years internal security law is still in force.

What do I make of Mubrak's departure? Nothing! It may be a false start, or a ploy to placate the crowds, and then go back to the previous business as usual. I am highly suspicious at this point, because the shades of the Mubarak regime are still down, and I cannot take a peek inside. I don't have any doubt, though, that there will be a lot of horsetrading for quite some time between the U.S., Israel, and Mubarak loyalists on one side, and the Egyptian opposition on the other side - before any light is shed on
what is really going on.

Now let's sit down and wait to see if the Revolution achieves it purpose, or if it will get only some chopped liver for its victory. Nikos Retsos, retired professor

[ASD]

You all so naive, I can’t believe it.
What democracy you are talking about?
What is gong to happened is Muslim brotherhood will take over in few month or even days. And unfortunately you would have as much democracy as Iran has.