BRUSSELS: The European Union's foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton Saturday called for an end to the violence in Egypt between demonstrators and security forces just two days from elections. "Violence must stop and the rule of law has to be maintained," Ashton said in a statement about the clashes that have left more than 40 dead. Protesters have taken to Cairo's Tahrir Square for an eighth day Saturday demanding the immediate end of military rule and transfer to a transitional civilian government. "All political parties should reaffirm their commitment to the democratic process that Egypt has embarked upon," Ashton said. "The swift shift of power to civilian rule is a key element of the transition and should happen as soon as possible on the basis of an inclusive dialogue," she added, noting the commitments made by the SCAF. The Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF), headed by ousted leader Hosni Mubarak's long time defense minister Field Marshal Hussein Tantawi, has pledged to hand power to a civilian president who will be elected no later than June 2012. Meanwhile on Monday parliamentary elections get under way that will be the first polls since a popular uprising ended Mubarak's 30-year-rule in February. "I remain confident that the Egyptian people and the authorities will find a way to move peacefully forward on their path towards democracy. The upcoming elections are a very important step and I hope they can go ahead as planned," Ashton said. In related news, France on Sunday urged Egypt's military rulers to cede power to civilians. "I believe the Egyptian authorities must impose public order in a different way and that it is time they hand over power to civilians," Interior Minister Claude Gueant told French media.
