Cameron warns Mubarak over violence in Egypt
By Ian Dunt
David Cameron’s rhetoric over events in Egypt hardened significantly today, after a series of street clashes in Cairo.
Thousands of people still loyal to president Hosni Mubarak attacked protestors in Tahrir Square, as the jubilant scenes of yesterday grew increasingly ugly.
Many observers insisted the pro-Mubarak demonstrators were actually plain-clothes policemen – the same men whose brutal response to the first few days of protests worsened the situation in the Egyptian capital.
Those allegations could not be confirmed, although Al-Jazeera reported that it had been shown some pro-Mubarak demonstrators were carrying the ID cards of policemen.
“We’ve been watching the events in Cairo with grave concern and completely condemn the violence that is taking place,” Mr Cameron said at a meeting with UN secretary general Ban Ki-moon.
“This is an unacceptable situation. Any attack on peaceful demonstrators in unacceptable and I condemn it.
“And if it turns out that the regime in any way has been sponsoring or tolerating this violence, that would be completely and utterly unacceptable.”
Mr Ban Ki-moon added: “Any attack against the peaceful demonstrators is unacceptable and I strongly condemn it.”
The clashes came as British political leaders poured praise on the demonstrators in Egypt.
Asked about the UK response to the crisis during PMQs this afternoon, Mr Cameron said: “The government takes a very strong view that political reform is what is required, not repression.”
“President Mubarak says he is going and we respect that. But what matters is not just the orderly transition but also that it is urgent, it is credible, it starts now.
“And the more they can do with a timetable to convince people it’s true, the more the country can settle down to a stable and more democratic future.”
The prime minister said Britain stood with those “who want freedom, who want democracy and rights the world over”.
“You can’t watch the scenes in Cairo without finding it incredibly moving about people wanting to have those aspirations in Egypt as we have them in our country,” he added.
Labour leader Ed Miliband replied: “Far from indicating support for extremism the people on the streets of Egypt are actually demanding some very basic things: jobs, freedom of speech and the right to choose by whom they are governed.”
Douglas Alexander, Labour’s shadow foreign secretary commented: “The anger and the aspirations of the Egyptian people deserve to be answered by fundamental and lasting change.
“Last night’s statement must start and not stall the process of change to a more broadly based government and a better future for Egypt.”
The world continued to watch in amazement throughout the day, as political shockwaves spread across the Middle East.
Yemen’s president, Ali Abdullah Saleh, has announced he will step down next year, at the end of his current term, ahead of planned protests. King Abdullah II of Jordan has sacked his government.
Both leaders are trying to avoid a repetition of events in Tunisia, where demonstrations forced President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali to flee to Saudi Arabia last month.
But the epicentre of events is Cairo, where president Hosni Mubarak tried to dampen protests last night by pledging to step down in September.
The speech was not enough to quell the agitation of the crowds, who are unlikely to back down until he gives up power.
With the west reduced to a bystander role, London and Washington struggled to stay on the right side of history while warning against any circumstance which could allow Islamic extremist to come to power.
A Foreign Office spokesperson said: “We have been clear in public, and with President Mubarak and his government in private, about the need for a transition to a broader-based government that will produce real, visible and comprehensive change.
“President Mubarak has made some proposals to the Egyptian people. We will study the detail of these. Ultimately the real test will be whether the aspirations of the Egyptian people are met.”
US president Barack Obama went further than before to call for significant change in Egyptian politics, saying: “It is my belief that an orderly transition must be meaningful, it must be peaceful and it must begin now.”
Meanwhile Middle East peace envoy Tony Blair was under fire for describing the Egyptian dictator as “immensely courageous and a force for good”.
Echoing the private thoughts of many western leaders, the former prime minister told Piers Morgan on CNN that President Mubarak played a central role in Middle East peace process.
“Where you stand on him depends on whether you’ve worked with him from the outside or on the inside,” Mr Blair said.
“I’ve worked with him on the Middle East peace process between the Israelis and the Palestinians so this is somebody I’m constantly in contact with and working with and on that issue, I have to say, he’s been immensely courageous and a force for good.
Mr Blair defended the west’s approach in the region.
“I don’t think the west should be the slightest bit embarrassed about the fact that it’s been working with Mubarak over the peace process but at the same time it’s been urging change in Egypt,” he added.
President Mubarak’s speech saw him bitterly reject the idea that he should stand down immediately.
“This is my country. This is where I lived, I fought and defended its land, sovereignty and interests, and I will die on its soil,” he said.
“My first responsibility is to restore the stability of the country and to ensure a peaceful transition of power.
“I have no intent to stand for those elections because I have spent enough time serving Egypt.”
The dictator promised to leave at the next election and institute constitutional reforms in the meantime.
The army, which had appeared to side with the demonstrators yesterday, today called for a return to “normal life” in the country. During the battles between pro-and anti-Mubarak demonstrators, tanks tried to separate the two groups, with army personnel waving flags but not firing their weapons.
However, army personel appeared to withdraw when the violent clashes began, as people fought in the street using whips, sticks and their bare hands.
