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Hailing the toppling of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak as a “victory of peoples’ power”, leaders across the world have said the mass movement should pave the way for democracy in a country which had suffered decades of despotic rule.
“There are very few moments in our lives where we have the privilege of witnessing history taking place. This is one of those moments,” the US President, Mr Barack Obama, said in his remarks.
Mr Obama led the world leaders in welcoming the violence-free revolution and said the Egyptian events were “irreversible” and asked the military to ensure transition to true democracy at the earliest.
“The people of Egypt have spoken,” the US President said, adding that they would settle for nothing less than “genuine democracy’’.
The UN Chief, Mr Ban Ki-moon, praised Mr Mubarak for bowing to the will of the people and taking a decision in the interest of Egyptian people.
Egypt’s neighbour Israel had no official response to the momentous development but unnamed officials were quoted by local press as expressing cautious optimism saying, “We hope that the peace accord will remain.”
The Israel’s hawkish Prime Minister, Mr Benjamin Netanyahu, last week warned of an Iranian-style Islamist revolution in Egypt should Mr Mubarak’s rivals, the Muslim Brotherhood, eventually succeed in taking over the reigns.
The French President, Mr Nicolas Sarkozy, saluted Mr Mubarak’s “courageous and necessary decision” to step down and hoped the Egyptian people will continue their March to liberty.
The German Chancellor, Ms Angela Merkel, described Mr Mubarak’s departure as a historic change and said she hoped the next Egyptian government would continue to keep peace in West Asia and respect agreement with Israel.
Welcoming the change, the British Prime Minister said those who now run Egypt have a duty to reflect the wishes of the people.
The Russian Foreign Minister Minister, Mr Sergei Lavrov, said the shift of power should restore stability in the nation. Spain also joined in calls for speedy electoral reforms.
The Canadian Prime Minister, Mr Stephen Harper, called for holding early free and fair elections and respecting the human rights of all including minorities.
The South African President, Mr Jacob Zuma, lauded Mr Mubarak for putting the interest of Egyptians above his own.
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