German Chancellor Angela Merkel hailed Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak's resignation Friday as a "historic change" but urged the new leadership to respect the country's 1979 peace treaty with Israel.
Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak has said he will not come to Germany for a medical check-up. US officials had allegedly put forward such plans as a way to get the leader out of Egypt and several German politicians had signed on to the idea.
More German politicians are supporting allowing Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak to come to Germany for medical treatment in the hopes it might calm the turmoil his country. But a human rights activist is preparing to press charges against him.
A rumour published in <i>The New York Times</i> that President Hosni Mubarak could be brought to Germany to facilitate a transition of power in Egypt caused a diplomatic stir at the weekend.
The Egyptian people have reacted angrily to the delay, but on Wednesday German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle said he welcomed President Hosni Mubarak’s announcement that he would surrender power in September.
The German government stepped up its travel advice for Egypt Tuesday, warning “strongly” against travel to any part of the country, which is in the grip of violent and chaotic anti-government protests.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel pressed Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak to refrain from violence in dealing with the protests in his country during a phone conversation Sunday, her office said.
Prime Minister Ahmed Nazif temporarily took over the reins of the Egyptian government as President Hosni Mubarak on Saturday underwent surgery in Germany to remove his gall bladder, news agency MENA said.