Turkey calls for transfer of power to civilian rule in Egypt

President Abdullah Gul, speaking hours before Egypt's higher military council announced it will stay in power for six more months, said he hoped the military will help transfer power to a civilian government through democratic elections as soon as possible. He said transparent, free and fair elections monitored by international observers would satisfy the demands of the Egyptian people. "We hope that Egypt will come out of this process stronger," he added. "We want the Egyptian people to be happy and prosperous. Their happiness and prosperity depend on ensuring fundamental rights and freedoms, democracy, the rule of law and economic transparency." Speaking on Saturday, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan praised the Egyptian people and repeated his calls for a transition to civilian rule saying, "Free and fair elections should be held as soon as possible, with no toleration for chaos, instability, or provocations, and constitutional democracy should be secured." Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, speaking in the Georgian city of Batumi at the start of an official visit on Friday, called Hosni Mubarak's resignation from Egypt's presidency a historic development for the Arab world and the region. He said the onus now lies with the military to ensure stability and review election law to allow active participation by political parties. "Firstly, continuity of the state and public order should be secured," Davutoglu was quoted as saying by Anatolia news agency. "Secondly, people's demands should be met, and a stable and lasting democracy should be built in Egypt through evolution. Thirdly, a transparent road map that the people can follow closely together with the international community should be announced."