European Union foreign affairs chief Catherine Ashton said that by departing, Mubarak had "opened the way to faster and deeper reforms."
"It is important now that the dialogue is accelerated leading to a broad-based government which will respect the aspirations of, and deliver stability for, the Egyptian people," she said in a statement.
"The future of Egypt rightly remains in the hands of the Egyptian people," the statement added.
She called for "all abuses" of human rights after 18 days of mass protests to be investigated and said the EU stands "ready to help in any way it can", during "an orderly and irreversible transition towards democracy and free and fair elections."
EU parliament head Jerzy Buzek, a former Solidarity activist in Communist Poland, added that the Egyptian army "must pursue a constructive role in the democratisation process."
"This is only the beginning of a long road to lasting change," he warned, calling for "a more just economic and social order, building on the rule of law."(*)
Editor: Aditia Maruli Radja
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
