France deplores heavy death toll in Egyptian protests on Saturday

The French government on Saturday deplored the heavy loss of life and the massive number of injuries in clashes between Egyptian police and soliders and supporters of deposed president Mohammed Morsi. "France deplores the heavy death toll in the clahses in Egypt," a statement here said. At least 80 people were said to have been shot dead and well over one hundred were wounded after the army allegedly opened fire on protesters. Military authorities are denying they used live ammunition. Paris "calls all the parties, and notably the army, to show proof of the greatest restraint," Foreign Ministry spokesman Philippe Lalliot said. The French statement also called for everything to be done to avoid an escalation in the violence. "We urge all parties to be calm and to search for a compromise so that a political solution emerges peacefully and so that elections can be organised as soon as possible in line with the commitments made by the Egyptian transitional authorities," the Foreign Minitstry said.