The UN advised all parties to remain peaceful.

The United Nations, UN, Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon on Friday expressed concern over the continuing political stalemate in Egypt as the Eid-El-Fitr Muslim holiday comes to a close.

Ban’s spokesman, Martin Nesirky in a statement said that the scribe repeated his commitment to support non-violent Egyptian-led approaches to meeting the aspirations of the people.

Since January 2011, the Egyptian people have raised their voices, through a series of massive and peaceful demonstrations that have sparked unprecedented change and debate over the future of Egypt.

Mr. Nesirky, however, said that the Secretary-General applauded the deep courage and commitment of the Egyptian people during the period in exercising their rights to peaceful assembly and freedom of expression in support of their respective visions for moving Egypt forward.

“Yet in light of current tensions and given the risk of potential violence, the Secretary-General also believes it is of critical importance that all sides in Egypt, including those in positions of authority as well as those protesting in the street, should urgently reconsider their current actions and language.

“For this reason, the Secretary-General urges Egyptians to set aside or avoid actions and words likely to be perceived by others as provocative.

“Instead they should try to look creatively at new approaches toward a genuinely inclusive political process that will be rooted in reconciliation.

“In the Secretary-General’s view, political strategies need to adjust to evolving circumstances and realities if they are to serve their country,’’ he stressed.

He said that the Secretary-General’s immediate concern was for the leaders of Egypt on all sides to exercise their leadership and their responsibility to do whatever could be done to prevent further loss of life among the Egyptian people.

“As long as they avoid the path of violence, the Secretary-General is confident that the Egyptian people, representing one of the world’s great and historic civilisations, will successfully find a way forward,’’ the spokesperson said.

He said that the UN remained fully engaged in supporting Egypt.

Tens of thousands of supporters of deposed Egyptian president, Mohammed Morsi, are still protesting peacefully on the streets demanding his release by the military and reinstatement to power. The authorities have threatened to forcefully disperse the protesters particularly those involved in sit-ins that have lasted more than a month.

(NAN)