Responding to requests from "key stakeholders," European Union Foreign Policy chief Catherine Ashton visits Egypt on Monday.
She will meet with Interim President Adly Mansour, Vice-President Mohamed ElBaradei, Defence Minister Gen. Abd Al Fattah Al Sissi and other members of the interim government, the European Council said in a press release on Sunday.
The EU foreign affairs head will also hold talks with other political forces, including representatives of the Freedom and Justice Party, political arm of the Islamist Mulsim Brotherhood, and representatives of the civil society. Ashton said she is going to Egypt "to speak to all sides and to reinforce our message that there must be a fully inclusive transition process, taking in all political groups, including the Muslim Brotherhood." This process must lead - as soon as possible - to constitutional order, free and fair elections and a civilian-led government, the High Representative said. "I will also repeat my call to end all violence. I deeply deplore the loss of life. The EU is determined to help the Egyptian people on their journey to a stable, prosperous and democratic Egypt," she added.
At least 75 people were killed and more than 1,000 injured as a sit-in protest by supporters of ousted President Mohamed Morsi turned violent in Egyptian capital Cairo at the weekend.
The Human Rights Watch, quoting medical staff in the field hospital where many of the casualties were brought in, alleged that some of the deaths appeared to be targeted killings. The "majority of the bullet injuries were to the head, neck, and chest," the position of the shots that would likely result in death.
Tension is mounting in the North African country as supporters and opponents of Morsi are holding mass demonstrations.
Thousands of people occupied Cairo's Tahrir Square on Friday responding to Army chief Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Sisi's call to show solidarity with the Army, which drove Morsi from power on July 3, and kept him and several Muslim Brotherhood leaders under detention.
Morsi supporters have been rallying against his overthrow and holding demonstrations since then, further plunging the country into a political turmoil.
A top Egyptian court on Friday ordered the detention of Morsi for 15 days to question him over allegations of spying for the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas.
The United States, the European Union, and the U.N. have called for the release of Morsi.
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Political News
April 17, 2026 15:29 ET The ongoing conflict in the Middle East continues to raise concerns for policymakers who worry about the impact of the supply shock and high energy prices on the real economy. Producer price data and various survey results on the housing market were the main news from the U.S. this week. In Europe, industrial production data for the euro area gained attention. GDP figures out of China and the policy move by the Singapore central bank were in focus in Asia.