Leaders step up pressure on Mubarak

David Cameron has joined with other European leaders to step up the pressure on Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak to end his 30-year rule and give up the reins of power.

In a joint statement, Mr Cameron and the leaders of France, Germany, Italy and Spain said the process of transition to a new, broad-based government “must start now”.

Meanwhile, the Foreign Office said it is chartering a second aircraft to bring home Britons stranded in the Egyptian capital Cairo.

Following Wednesday’s violent clashes between supporters of the beleaguered president and demonstrators demanding change, the European leaders said the right to peaceful protest must be respected.

“We are watching with utmost concern the deteriorating situation in Egypt,” they said in their statement. “The Egyptian people must be able to exercise freely their right to peaceful assembly, and enjoy the full protection of the security forces. Attacks against journalists are completely unacceptable.

“We condemn all those who use or encourage violence, which will only aggravate the political crisis in Egypt. Only a quick and orderly transition to a broad-based government will make it possible to overcome the challenges Egypt is now facing. That transition process must start now.”

Their statement echoed calls by the White House which has been demanding that America’s old ally – who has said he will not stand for election again in September – should begin the process of political transition immediately.

Mr Cameron’s official spokesman said: “We will continue to use all channels to bring pressure to bear on the regime.”

With the protesters continuing to claim that the pro-Mubarak supporters who attacked them in Cairo’s Tahrir Square were thugs hired by the regime, Downing Street again warned that such behaviour is unacceptable.

The Foreign Office said that it had decided to charter a second aircraft due to “the continuing fluidity and unpredictability of the situation in Egypt”, adding that it will leave Cairo on Saturday.