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EU urges Egyptian security forces to exercise "utmost restraint"

15 August 2013 01:47 (UTC +04:00)

Baku-APA. The European Union's (EU) foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton on Wednesday called on Egyptian security forces to exercise "utmost restraint" following deadly clashes with supporters of ousted president Mohamed Morsi, APA reports quoting Xinhua.

"Confrontation and violence is not the way forward to resolve key political issues. I deplore the loss of lives, injuries and destruction in Cairo and other places in Egypt," Ashton said in a statement.

"I call on the security forces to exercise utmost restraint and on all Egyptian citizens to avoid further provocations and escalation," she said.

The EU's top diplomat stressed that all sides in Egypt "must take responsibility for the orderly conduct of demonstrations and an end to incitement."

"The country's democratic future will depend on a dialogue among all concerned aimed at overcoming differences," she added.

The president of the European Parliament Martin Schulz in separate statement said the casualties reported in Cairo were "not acceptable."

"I strongly condemn any violent intervention by the police forces against the supporters of former president Morsi," he said. "It's the government's responsibility to find a peaceful and fair solution to the current crisis towards an inclusive political process and reconciliation."