European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton condemned violence in Egypt that claimed scores of lives on Wednesday and urged the interim government to end a state of emergency as soon as possible.
Egyptian security forces killed at least 30 people when they moved in to break up a camp of Cairo Muslim Brotherhoofd protesters demanding the reinstatement of deposed Islamist President Mohamed Mursi. Six security force members were killed, state television reported, quoting the Interior Ministry.
Egypt declared a month-long state of emergency. A statement by the office of Egyptian President Adly Mansour said Wednesday that the state of emergency took effect at 4 p.m. Egypt time. It didn’t provide details but says Mansour also ordered the armed forces to support the police in their efforts to restore law and order and protect state facilities.
The government also imposed a nighttime curfew on Cairo and 10 provinces.
"I strongly condemn the violence that has erupted in Cairo and throughout Egypt," Ashton said in a statement, adding that the violence left Egypt "heading into an uncertain future".
"I call on the security forces to exercise utmost restraint and on the interim government to end the state of emergency as soon as possible, to allow the resumption of normal life," she said.
‘’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. I call on the security forces to exercise utmost restraint and on all Egyptian citizens to avoid further provocations and escalation.’’
Ashton said the country's democratic future ‘’will depend on a dialogue among all concerned aimed at overcoming differences in an inclusive process of political reconciliation, with a fully empowered civilian government and functioning democratic institutions.’’
‘’Key elements for the way ahead have been debated already, they include upholding the rights of freedom of expression and peaceful protest, protecting all citizens and enabling full political participation. At the same time all sides must take responsibility or the orderly conduct of demonstrations and an end to incitement," she added.
The EU, together with the United States, has been trying to mediate in the Egyptian crisis. Ashton met last month in Cairo with ousted President Morsi.
Lithuania, the country which currently holds of the EU's rotating presidency, issued a separate statement voicing "extreme concern" at the latest turmoil in Egypt.
"At this critical moment, it is important to avoid escalation of violence and to solve political disagreements through peaceful means, as well ad begin a dialogue between the political forces as soon as possible," declared Lithuanian Foreign Minister Linas Linkevicius.
Earlier, European Parliament President, Martin Schulz, called on the Egyptian authorities "to ensure that all Egyptian people, regardless of their political views, are allowed to demonstrate peacefully.
"It's the government's responsibility to find a peaceful and fair solution to the current crisis towards an inclusive political process and reconciliation," he said.