EU urges Mubarak to immediately talk to opposition

(BRUSSELS) - EU chief diplomat Catherine Ashton urged Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak to immediately hold talks with the opposition Monday and respond to the aspirations of anti-government protesters.

"The legitimate grievances of the Egyptian people should be responded to. Their aspirations for a just, better future should be met with urgent, concrete and decisive answers, and with real steps," Ashton said.

"There needs to be a peaceful way forward based on an open and serious dialogue with the opposition parties and all parts of civil society, and we believe it needs to happen now," she told reporters ahead of a meeting of European Union foreign ministers in Brussels.

The EU's foreign policy chief said the 27-nation bloc stands ready to assist Egypt every step of the way, but like Cairo's powerful ally, the United States, took a cautious line and stopped well short of calling for Mubarak to step aside.

"We will be there for the short, medium and long term to help build and support democracy, the rule of law, human rights, all of those values coming into action," she said.

Deploring the violence that has left at least 125 people dead, Ashton urged "everyone and especially the police forces" to show restraint to prevent further violence.

The English baroness repeated her call for Egyptian authorities to release all "peaceful demonstrators" who were detained during anti-government protests since last week.

The upheaval in Egypt shot up on the agenda of a regular meeting of foreign ministers that was already set to be marked by sanctions against the former dictator of Tunisia, who was ousted in a popular revolt earlier this month.

Back in Cairo, a sea of protesters flooded the Egyptian capital for a seventh day against Mubarak's regime, calling for a rolling general strike until the veteran leader stands down.

Tens of thousands of protesters carpeted Cairo's Tahrir square, the epicentre for those calling for an end to the corruption, deprivation and police oppression indelibly associated with Mubarak's 30-year rule.