EU calls for release of all political detainees in Egypt

EU High Representative for foreign and security policy, Catherine Ashton, Sunday said the 28-member European bloc is following the recent developments in Egypt with "deep concern. "The military must accept and respect the constitutional authority of the civilian power as a basic principle of democratic governance," she said in a statement. "The EU urges the interim authorities to make every effort so that politically motivated arrests and other forms of harassments do not take place. All political detainees must be released, and criminal cases reviewed swiftly in a transparent manner," stressed Ashton. She underlined hat "it is of utmost importance that Egypt returns rapidly to a legitimate government and democratic structures responding to the democratic and socio-economic aspirations of the Egyptian people. " "The EU stresses in particular the importance of holding democratic elections in the shortest possible time," she noted and called for a broad-based and substantial dialogue, inclusive of all those political forces committed to democratic principles. "A successful outcome will depend on the free participation of all political actors, including the Freedom and Justice Party," said the EU foreign policy chief. "It is for the Egyptian people to decide on the way forward, including a path to free and fair elections in which all parties can compete, and work to agree a constitution as a solid foundation for a united, democratic and prosperous Egypt ," said the statement. "All media must be free to function and journalists should not be penalised as a consequence of their professional work," she added.