Catherine Ashton: EU backs free and fair elections in Egypt

PanARMENIAN.Net - EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton said on Friday she respected Hosni Mubarak's decision to stand down as Egyptian president and called for dialogue for the formation of a broad-based government.

In a statement, Ashton also said the European Union shared the objective of the Egyptian people for an orderly transition to democracy and free and fair elections in Egypt.

"The EU respects President Mubarak's decision today. By standing down, he has listened to the voices of the Egyptian people and has opened the way to faster and deeper reforms," Ashton said.

"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."

Ashton said respect for fundamental human rights was key, and all abuses during the unrest must be investigated.

"The future of Egypt rightly remains in the hands of the Egyptian people. The EU stands ready to help in any way it can," Reuters quoted her as saying.