NZ joins calls for regime change in Egypt

Jan 31, 2011 |

DPA via IANS

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Wellington: New Zealand on Monday joined international calls for Egypt President Hosni Mubarak to respect his people's demands for a change in the country's regime.

"There is obviously a strong wish among the Egyptian people for a more broadly based government and for greater freedoms and improved economic conditions, and this desire needs to be respected by Egypt's leaders," Foreign Minister Murray McCully said.

"Egypt is at the centre of the Arab world and has long been a force of moderation and leadership in promoting regional peace," he said. "Now that same sense of moderation needs to be shown on the streets of Cairo by all parties."

Prime Minister John Key told Radio New Zealand the government could send military aircraft to get New Zealanders out of Egypt if the situation worsened.

The foreign affairs and trade ministry said the building housing the New Zealand embassy in Cairo was damaged during street protests.

Wilson said New Zealand troops stationed on the Sinai peninsula near the Egypt-Israel border have been confined to barracks by Egyptian authorities as a result of the protests.

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