EUROPEAN REACTION:EUROPEAN LEADERS were quick to welcome Hosni Mubarak's resignation as president of Egypt but stressed his regime should be replaced with a civilian broad-based government.
In the hours after Mr Mubarak handed political control of the country to the Egyptian military, its leaders were repeatedly urged to proceed with a fully fledged democratic transition.
However, there is some concern in high levels of the European political establishment that the fledgling opposition movement in the country should be given time to organise itself before elections.
Given Mr Mubarak’s ruthless suppression of dissent, European leaders are acutely conscious that the only organised force against his rule for years was the Islamist Muslim Brotherhood.
European Council president Herman Van Rompuy said in a joint statement with EU Commission chief José Manuel Barroso and EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton that “an orderly and irreversible transition” towards free and fair election was the shared objective of the EU and the Egyptian people.
Speaking to reporters in Brussels, Ms Ashton said it was not for her to say how soon elections should take place. Democracy was a process and not a moment, she added. “We have to make sure the process really is capable of delivering those free and fair elections. Again, we offer support in that.” She said the EU had taken no decision as of yet to follow moves by the Swiss authorities to freeze any assets controlled by Mr Mubarak and his associates. Without saying how much money was involved or where it was held, the Swiss foreign ministry said such assets will be frozen for three years.
Asked if she was concerned that the army might hijack the revolution, Ms Ashton said military leaders have been given an opportunity to take Egypt forward.
“We hope they will do it in a way that, first of all, demonstrates to their people that they are serious about it. That will be critical in these next hours and days, that people really do feel the process is under way. It’s a message we’ve been giving for days to the Egyptians: this has to be credible.”
British prime minister David Cameron said Egypt now had a precious opportunity to have a government that would bring the country together. “What has happened today should only be the first step,” he said. “Those who now run Egypt have a duty to reflect the wishes of the Egyptian people and, in particular, there really must be a move to civilian and democratic rule as part of this important transition to an open, democratic and free Egypt.”
German chancellor Angela Merkel there was “great joy” at Mr Mubarak’s departure. “We are all witness to an historic change. I share the joy of the people of Egypt, with the millions of people on the streets of Egypt.”
Spanish foreign minister Trinidad Jiménez hoped the resignation “will facilitate a quicker transition to democracy and thus allow the people of Egypt to fulfil their legitimate aspirations”.