Hollande, Merkel call for urgent Europe talks on Egypt

PARIS - Agence France-Presse

Both Berlin and Paris had summoned the Egyptian envoys in their countries. Reuters photo

French President François Hollande and German Chancellor Angela Merkel called Friday for urgent European consultations on the escalating crisis in Egypt.

The two leaders discussed the crisis by telephone and "called for an immediate end to the violence" and for the foreign ministers of the EU to meet quickly next week over the deteriorating situation in Egypt, the French presidency said in a statement.

Hollande was also due to discuss Egypt with British Prime Minister David Cameron in a telephone call later on Friday.

"Egypt must return as quickly as possible to the path of its democratic life," the statement said.

"The president and chancellor also called for urgent consultations at the European level," it said.

"They want the Union's foreign ministers to meet quickly, next week, in order to take stock of cooperation between the European Union and Egypt, and to develop common responses." The European Union has already said that top officials from its 28 members will meet Monday to review the crisis in Egypt, where a military crackdown has left hundreds dead.