France, Germany call for dialogue in Egypt

Paris, Aug 17:

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have urged the Egyptians to hold dialogue among them, while putting an immediate end to ongoing violence.

The call was given on Friday, following telephonic conversation between French President Francois Hollande and German Chancellor Angela Merkel on the situation in Egypt, reported Xinhua.

Over 500 people have been killed and 3,000 injured in clashes between the Egyptian security forces and Muslim Brotherhood supporters since Wednesday. Egypt has declared a state of emergency for a month and imposed a curfew in a number of turmoil-hit provinces including Cairo, Alexandria, North and South Sinai.

The two leaders called for an "immediate cessation of violence" and urged the Egyptians to open dialogue, said a statement issued by the French presidency. "Egypt must return as soon as possible to the course of its democratic life."

Both leaders also called for an urgent consultation at the European level.

"They want that EU Foreign Ministers to come together quickly, next week, in order to take a stock of cooperation between the European Union and Egypt, and to develop common responses," the statement said.

IANS