Brussels, 07/10/2013 (Agence Europe) - EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton commented on clashes in Egypt between people for and against Morsi during the weekend of 4 to 6 October: “It is with great concern that I hear about the weekend's violent clashes in Egypt leading to more than 50 people killed and several hundred injured. My deep sympathy goes to the victims and their families.” The clashes left more than 50 people dead, more than 200 injured, with more than 400 arrests. “This spiral of violence escalation is not the way forward” said Ashton's spokesman Michael Mann, on Monday 7 October. After her visit to Cairo on 2 and 3 October (see EUROPE 19036), Ashton said: “I have just returned from Cairo where I met with the interim Government, the Muslim Brotherhood, political parties and religious leaders. My message was clear and simple: the only way out of the political polarisation and mistrust is for all political leaders to take their responsibility, putting their differences aside, and to initiate a political process re-embarking on the path of building a deep and sustainable democracy.”
The president of the ALDE at the European Parliament, Guy Verhofstadt (Belgium), said that the number of attacks, protests and assassinations in Egypt was frightening and rather than a more democratic environment, a climate of repressing and increased violence was being seen, fearing that worse was to come. He added that without political dialogue, there would be more attacks, more demonstrations, more chaos at a time when Egypt desperately needs tourists and investors to return. He said it was a shame that the government had announced that there was no need for mediation. (CG/transl.fl)