Key European Leaders Urge Restraint in Cairo

With the European Union yet to form a common response to the mass demonstrations in the Arab world, leaders of three of its diplomatic heavyweights appealed for free and fair elections in Egypt over the weekend.

The three — Prime Minister David Cameron, President Nicolas Sarkozy of France and Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany — fell short of calling for the resignation of President Hosni Mubarak of Egypt, despite the protests against him on the streets, and cited his modulated approach to the region.

“We are deeply concerned about the events that we are witnessing in Egypt,” the three leaders wrote in a statement. “We recognize the moderating role President Mubarak has played over many years in the Middle East. We now urge him to show the same moderation in addressing the current situation in Egypt.”