UN head: Egypt protests should remain peaceful

The Egyptian security forces must fully respect the civil liberties of protesters, and the protesters must in turn - to express their displeasure through peaceful means, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon stated on Saturday. He strongly condemned the recent clashes in Cairo, which, according to latest reports, have claimed the lives of over 70 people. “Egyptian security forces must act with full respect for human rights, including guaranteeing freedom of expression and assembly,” UN Secretary-General’s spokesman Martin Nesirky quoted Mr. Ban as saying. He noted that that Ban Ki-moon also called on the protesters to “show restraint and keep the protests peaceful.” “The Secretary-General appeals to all the people of Egypt to address their differences through dialogue and again renews his calls to all parties to engage in an inclusive and meaningful reconciliation process,” according to the statement. Mr. Ban underlined that violence is not a substitute for a political solution and, therefore, “calls on all Egyptian leaders to put the interest of Egypt above all individual, group and political interests.”