Europe News

Sarkozy: France "stands in friendship" with Tunisians, Egyptians

Jan 30, 2011, 12:57 GMT

Addis Ababa - France 'stands in all friendship and respect alongside the Tunisians and the Egyptians at this crucial moment,' French President Nicolas Sarkozy said Sunday.

'Violence, from whichever source, is never a solution, because violence only breeds more violence,' he said at the African Union summit in Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa.

Egypt entered its sixth day of anti-government protests with tens of thousands of demonstrators taking to the streets, demanding the ouster of President Hosny Mubarak.

Many of the protesters have taken their cue from Tunisia, where president Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali relinquished his post on January 14 after a popular revolt against his 23 years in power.

Sarkozy said: 'France wishes to to teach no one any lesson, but there are certain universal values. Values of dialogue, listening to each other being open to them ... France wants this peaceful change and is prepared to support it.'

Read more about Egypt Unrest

Read more about France

Read more about Reactions