Several European Union Foreign Ministers warned on Monday against "radicalism and extremism" in Egypt, fearing a takeover by Islamists in the Middle east country where anti-government demonstrations continued. Six days of unrest have seen more than 100 people killed.
The ministers, who gathered Monday in Brussels, called for a peaceful transition to democracy both in Egypt and Tunisia where an uprising ousted President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali earlier this month.
EU’s foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton is scheduled to meet the new Tunisian Foreign Minister on Monday to offer EU’s aid to organize elections.
Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini said he was confident the "Egyptians will want to chose democracy and civil rights, not radicalism or extremism."
He said he would eventually like the EU to send a high-level delegation to all countries across the Mediterranean facing "disorders".
His Austrian counterpart Michael Spindelegger said his country was also worried about the possible rise to power of extremists, adding "we don't want that."
In recent days, the EU has been seeking to distance itself from Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, with which it has had close ties in the past in the framework of its partnerships with eastern and southern Mediterranean countries.
Foreign ministers have urged Mubarak to embark on reform in his country but stopped short of demanding he leave.
EU Council President Herman Van Rompuy said on Saturday the EU was "deeply troubled" by the violence in Egypt. "I call for the cession of violence to stop bloodshed, the release of all those arrested or under house arrest for political reasons, including political figures, and to set the necessary reform process in motion. I sincerely hope that the promises of openness by President Moubarak will translate into concrete action," he declared.
Over the weekend, three European leaders have urged Egypt to conduct free and fair elections over the weekend, and have asked President Hosni Mubarak to use his 'modulated approach' to handle the current situation rather than demanding his resignation.
Expressing deep concern about the protests in Egypt, British Prime Minister David Cameron, France President Nicolas Sarkozy, and German Chancellor Angela Merkel wrote a joint statement, in which they said: "We recognize the moderating role President Mubarak has played over many years in the Middle East. We now urge him to show the same moderation in addressing the current situation in Egypt."
Angela Merkel is expected to discuss the situation in Egypt on Monday in Israel where she started an official visit. She is one of the first Western leaders to visit the region since the demonstrations in Egypt.