Yudhoyono Asks UN to Take Active part in Egypt

Jakarta (Antara) - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has appealed to the UN to mediate a conflict in Egypt to prevent it from claiming more lives. "I am of the view the solution is compromise between the two conflicting parties rather than the winner takes all," the President said on his @SBYudhoyono twitter account on Sunday. The UN had better take the initiative to avoid larger bloodshed, he said. "All efforts including reconciliation must be pursued," he said. "We are concerned about the latest developments in Egypt. Unless wise and immediate policy is taken it may evolve into a tremendous horizontal conflict," he said. A clash between supporters and opponents of ousted President Mohamed Moursi erupted last Friday (July 26) near the Rabiah Al-Adawiyah area, Cairo, leaving at least 80 people dead. Earlier, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said he condemned the most recent surge of violence in Egypt. The UN chief called on Egypt authorities to "act with full respect for human rights, including guaranteeing the rights to free speech and assembly". At the same time he urged the demonstrators to "to exercise restraint and preserve the peaceful nature of their protests." Ban also reiterated his previous calls for immediate release of the country's deposed President Mohammed Morsi and eight Muslim Brotherhood leaders, who are currently in detention by the Egyptian military on charges of conspiracy and murder.(*)