EU calls for restraint as Egypt revolt unfolds

EU foreign affairs chief Catherine Ashton called on the 27 January 2011 for the Egyptian authorities to exercise restraint after street violence escalated in the country following an earlier rising in Tunisia.

Separately, the Secretary General of the Union for the Mediterranean, Jordanian diplomat Ahmad Khalef Masadeh, announced his resignation, highlighting the institution's shaky foundations and apparent inability to tackle key issues in the region, including the ongoing political tension in northern Africa.

• Primary Source

EUObserver, 31.1.11: Egypt: Over 100 dead, tourists evacuated, multiple EU statements http://euobserver.com/9/31721

EurActiv, 31.1.11: Egypt revolution hijacks EU ministers' agenda http://www.euractiv.com/global-europe/egypt-revolution-hijacks-eu-mini-news-501730

EUObserver, 28.1.11: Italy calls for EU crisis mission, as Egypt boils over http://euobserver.com/9/31716

PressEurop, 31.1.11: An opportunity not to be missed http://www.presseurop.eu/en/content/article/484291-opportunity-not-be-missed

Deutsche Welle, 31.1.11: European press review: 'Keeping Mubarak in power can no longer be a priority' http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,14806071,00.html

Council of the European Union: Press Release, 31.1.11: Council conclusions on Egypt http://www.consilium.europa.eu/uedocs/cms_data/docs/pressdata/EN/foraff/119039.pdf

EUObserver, 31.1.11: Ashton calls for dialogue between Mubarak and opposition http://euobserver.com/9/31724

EUObserver, 27.1.11: Mediterranean Union chief resigns as Egypt unrest continues http://euobserver.com/9/31706

EUObserver, 31.1.11: Middle Eastern mayors unimpressed by EU reaction to uprisings http://euobserver.com/9/31720

EUObserver, 3.2.11: 'Go now' EU countries tell Mubarak, as Egypt faces Tiananmen moment http://euobserver.com/9/31742

ESO: Background information: Union for the Mediterranean http://www.europeansources.info/record/union-for-the-mediterranean/

France24, 27.1.11: Egypt faces further turmoil http://www.france24.com/en/20110127-egypt-activists-call-further-protests-defy-government-president-mubarak

Deutsche Welle, 27.1.11: Egypt's activists lack leadership as protests widen http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,14796512,00.html

EEAS: Arab Republic of Egypt http://eeas.europa.eu/egypt/index_en.htm

EU: Press Release, A032/11: Statement by the EU High Representative Catherine Ashton on the events in Egypt http://www.consilium.europa.eu/uedocs/cms_Data/docs/pressdata/EN/foraff/118963.pdf

ESO: Background information: How did the world get Tunisia so wrong? http://www.europeansources.info/record/how-did-the-world-get-tunisia-so-wrong/

EUObserver, 4.2.11: Belgium: Egypt revolution is 'test' for Ashton http://euobserver.com/9/31754

EUObserver, 4.2.11: Egypt revolution reaching climax as EU summit opens http://euobserver.com/9/31751

EurActiv, 4.2.11: Egypt crisis looms large over EU summit's agenda http://www.euractiv.com/en/east-mediterranean/egypt-crisis-looms-large-eu-summits-agenda-news-501890

EUObserver, 31.1.11: Dodging question of Mubarak resignation, EU calls for transitional government http://euobserver.com/9/31726

EUObserver, 1.2.11: Israeli rabbi: EU should talk to religious leaders in Egypt http://euobserver.com/9/31729

EurActiv, 1.2.11: EU ministers call for orderly transition in Egypt http://www.euractiv.com/en/global-europe/eu-ministers-call-orderly-transition-egypt-news-501770

EUObserver, 28.1.11: EU 'troubled' by Egypt, but will keep paying aid http://euobserver.com/9/31718

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