Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Indonesian legislator Muhammad Najib has called upon the Indonesian people to pray for Egypt so that the Arab country could find its way, without further bloodshed, toward building a democratic country.

"As a friend of Egypt, we should help the Egyptian people through prayers and our experiences," Muhammad Najib said here on Friday.

He noted that the situation in Egypt is very worrying, as both conflicting sides appear unwilling to compromise.

Further, Mahfudz Siddiq, the chairman of the House of Representatives` Commission I, said Indonesia should criticize the coup in Egypt to prevent such actions from becoming a precedent in the future.

Indonesia should also urge the military junta to end all violence and release President Morsi, along with the House Speaker, MPs and politicians who are under arrest, as well as reopen TV stations and restore civilian and press freedoms.

Ideologically, according to Siddiq, Indonesia should encourage Egypt to return to a democratic path.

The politician from the Justice and Prosperous Party (PKS) even suggested that the Indonesian government should freeze bilateral ties if necessary until democracy has been restored in Egypt through general elections.

On Monday, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono expressed his hope that the conflicting parties in Egypt could exercise self-restraint in order to prevent additional bloodshed.

"Hopefully in this situation, both parties could exercise self-restraint to avoid there being more victims. Reconciliation and compromise should be accomplished," President Yudhoyono said.

He additionally called upon the United Nations to help find a solution. "Neighboring countries should also help ease the tension and not encourage a separation," he said.

The head of state also ordered the Indonesian ambassador to Egypt to protect Indonesian nationals living there.

"I have been informed that the Indonesians there are under control and our students are also safe," he said.

Further, he instructed Indonesians in Egypt not to involve themselves in the ongoing conflicts. "Stay away from dangerous places and maintain communications," he said.

Yudhoyono described the conflict in Egypt as dangerous because it is a horizontal conflict that involves hundreds of thousands of people facing off against each other.

(B009/KR-BSR/F001)

Editor: Jafar M Sidik
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