Hollande summons Egyptian envoy to express concerns over violence

French President Francois Hollande on Thursday reacted vigorously to the latest violence in Egypt and the deaths of hundreds in a security operation to dislodge supporters of deposed President Mohammed Morsi from several strongholds in the capital, Cairo. Hollande told the Egyptian ambassador to Paris, Hatem Aziz Al-Nasr, of serious French concerns about the "tragic" violence and also issued a condemnation of the violence that took place mainly in Cairo, but which spread to other cities on Wednesday, official sources said. Reports say upwards of 300 people have died, including around 50 policemen, but the final toll may be higher. A statement from Hollande's office on Thursday said that the French leader "condemned in the firmest manner the bloody violence that took place in Egypt and demanded an immediate halt to the repression." Hollande also said that "the right to peacefully demonstrate must be respected" but this also requires of demonstrators "the duty to behave in a peaceful manner." He also stressed that "the state of emergency must be lifted rapidly" and he urged that "everything must be done to avoid civil war." The French President suggested that freeing prisoners all the while respecting the judicial process could be a first step towards encouraging talks between the opposing parties. He also urged the rapid holding of democratic elections in Egypt in line with commitments made by the interim authorities who came to power after the military ousted Morsi, with much popular support, on July 3. Hollande also called on the current Egyptian authorities to ensure the protection of French nationals, diplomatic missions and other interests in Egypt.