Expressing deep concern over the growing violence in Egypt, Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard has sought an immediate change in the country’s leadership.
“Clearly a transition is required in Egypt,” Australian news agency AAP quoted Ms. Gillard as saying.
“The time for that transition has come. The time for change has come,” Ms. Gillard said adding her government was deeply concerned about the violence. “I absolutely condemn this violence,” she said.
“I want to stress that we believe the government of Egypt has to acquit its responsibility to keep people safe and it has to acknowledge the right of people to peacefully protest.”
Ms. Gillard said the Australian Embassy was doing the best it could to evacuate its citizens from Egypt.
“There has also been problems with outright lawlessness as the normal structures of society have come under strain,” she said.
“These are difficult circumstances.”
Ms. Gillard asked Australians still in Egypt to keep in touch with the embassy so they could eventually be evacuated.
