UN Chief Calls for Immediate End to Bloodshed in Egypt
TEHRAN (Tasnim) - United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon in a statement called for an end to violence and bloodshed in Egypt after brutal crackdown on peaceful protesters by the Egyptian forces.
In his Saturday’s statement, Ban condemned the excessive use of force against supporters of ousted President Mohamed Mursi, and called for an end to violence and bloodshed in the Arab country.
The UN chief said in the statement that preventing further loss of life in Egypt should be people’s "highest priority at this dangerous moment".
"He urges those in the street and those in authority to use maximum restraint and shift immediately to de-escalation,” the statement said.
"He appeals to the authorities and to the political leaders to adopt a credible plan to contain the violence and revive the political process hijacked by violence," it added.
Tens of thousands of people took to the streets across Egypt in response to a call by the Muslim Brotherhood for nationwide protests on the ‘Friday of Rage’ (also ‘Day of Anger’) against the army and its handpicked government.
The security forces fired on the supporters of ousted President Mohamed Mursi, leaving at least 173 people dead and some 1,330 more injured across Egypt.
On Wednesday, Egypt launched a brutal crackdown on thousands of peaceful protesters in Cairo demanding the reinstatement of Mursi.
At least 640 people were killed and hundreds of others injured in clashes between security forces and protesting people.
