United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has called on Egyptian security forces to protect protesters and prevent deadly clashes between rival factions.
On Friday, at least 30 people were killed and hundreds of others injured across Egypt during clashes between tens of thousands of opponents and supporters of ousted President Mohamed Morsi, according to Egyptian Health Ministry officials.
The UN chief expressed alarm at violent clashes, including reports of deaths and injuries caused by security forces and “horrifying reports of sexual violence,” Banâ„¢s spokesman said in a statement issued late on Friday.
He added that Egyptâ„¢s politicians must show their commitment to “a peaceful and democratic dialogue which includes all of Egyptâ„¢s constituencies, including women,” his spokesman said.
“The way forward should be determined by the people of Egypt themselves,” the spokesman stated. “For such a process to succeed, there is no place for retribution or for the exclusion of any major party or community.”
He also called on the Egyptians to work together to restore constitutional order and civilian governance in the country.
On Wednesday, Egypt’s army chief ousted Morsi, who took office in June 2012, and dissolved the country’s constitution in a move aimed at resolving the countryâ„¢s political crisis.
General Abdel Fattah al-Sisi also said that new parliamentary elections will be held, and declared head of Supreme Constitutional Court Adli Mansour as the caretaker leader.
The army announced the roadmap hours after its two-day ultimatum to Morsi came to an end.
The Egyptians launched a revolution against the pro-Israeli regime of dictator Hosni Mubarak on January 25, 2011, which eventually brought an end to his 30-year dictatorship on February 11, 2011.
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Republished with permission from: Press TV