The European Union on Friday welcomed Egypt's decision to allow international observers to monitor the upcoming presidential elections due later this month. Nonetheless, the EU also expressed concerns about last week's violent clashes in Cairo.
"The EU is following closely the domestic situation in Egypt ahead of the Presidential elections planned for May 23-24, 2012," said a statement released by the spokesperson for the EU's foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton.
"The EU welcomes the Egyptian Supreme Presidential Election Committee's decision to invite members of other countries' election authorities to witness the presidential elections. This is a very encouraging step in Egypt's transition to an open and democratic society to which the EU is responding positively," the statement said.
Expressing concerns and regret over the loss of life and injuries caused by last week's violence in Cairo, the EU called on on all parties to show restraint and to focus on making a peaceful transition as the country moves to elect its President and to hand over power to the new civilian authorities by the end of June.
The EU also reiterated earlier calls to the north African nation's interim authorities to uphold full respect for fundamental human rights, including fair trial rights, in the interest of developing deep democracy, and to respond to the legitimate demands and aspirations of the Egyptian people.
Last week, at least 20 people were killed in an attack by unidentified assailants on a sit-in demonstration staged outside the Egyptian Ministry of Defense building in Cairo to protest against the barring of an ultraconservative Salafist preacher from contesting in the presidential elections.
Later in the week, dozens were injured after fierce clashes broke out between security forces and anti-government demonstrators near Egypt's defense ministry building in capital Cairo. The demonstrators were protesting against the attack on the sit-in demonstration.
Egypt is currently preparing to hold its first presidential elections after the ouster of Hosni Mubarak last year by a popular unrest against his decades-long rule. The ruling military council that succeeded Mubarak is due to hand over power to the new President on July 1.
The presidential elections are planned for May 23-24. If none of the presidential aspirants manage to secure the required 50 percent votes for an outright victory, a second round between the top two would be held in June.
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