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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| UK asked to freeze Egypt officials' assets, says Hague | UK asked to freeze Egypt officials' assets, says Hague |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Foreign Secretary William Hague says the UK has been asked by the Egyptian government to freeze the assets of some of its former officials. | Foreign Secretary William Hague says the UK has been asked by the Egyptian government to freeze the assets of some of its former officials. |
| He told MPs that the UK authorities would take swift action against any illegal activity. | He told MPs that the UK authorities would take swift action against any illegal activity. |
| Mr Hague later commented on reports of attacks on protests in Iran, urging the authorities to protect free expression. | |
| He urged the Iranian authorities to "ensure that the security authorities exercise restraint". | |
| While addressing MPs, Mr Hague welcomed the promise of the Egyptian military to establish a democratic government. | |
| The foreign secretary said there was now "a precious moment of opportunity" both in Egypt and Tunisia. | The foreign secretary said there was now "a precious moment of opportunity" both in Egypt and Tunisia. |
| In a wide-ranging statement to the Commons, Mr Hague called for a timetable for free and fair parliamentary elections in Egypt. | In a wide-ranging statement to the Commons, Mr Hague called for a timetable for free and fair parliamentary elections in Egypt. |
| He pointed out that Egypt is a sovereign country: "We must not seek to dictate who runs its affairs. | He pointed out that Egypt is a sovereign country: "We must not seek to dictate who runs its affairs. |
| Asset freezing request | |
| "But we have been clear throughout the process that it is in our national interest as well as theirs for them to make a successful transition to a broad based government." | "But we have been clear throughout the process that it is in our national interest as well as theirs for them to make a successful transition to a broad based government." |
| And he called for the release of those detained during the demonstrations: "The United Kingdom must always uphold the right of peaceful protest and freedom of speech." | And he called for the release of those detained during the demonstrations: "The United Kingdom must always uphold the right of peaceful protest and freedom of speech." |
| Mr Hague then revealed that the UK government had received a request from the Egyptians to freeze the assets of several of the country's former officials. | Mr Hague then revealed that the UK government had received a request from the Egyptians to freeze the assets of several of the country's former officials. |
| He stopped short of naming any individuals, and explained that the UK would work with other European and international partners on asset freezing. | He stopped short of naming any individuals, and explained that the UK would work with other European and international partners on asset freezing. |
| "We will of course co-operate with this request. If there is any evidence of illegality or misuse of state assets we will take firm and prompt action." | "We will of course co-operate with this request. If there is any evidence of illegality or misuse of state assets we will take firm and prompt action." |
| Chancellor George Osborne will raise the issue in meetings with other European finance ministers in meetings later and on Tuesday, he said. | Chancellor George Osborne will raise the issue in meetings with other European finance ministers in meetings later and on Tuesday, he said. |
| This would be alongside discussions about financial support for Egypt and Tunisia. | This would be alongside discussions about financial support for Egypt and Tunisia. |
| Mr Hague's statement to MPs also covered other areas in the Middle East. | Mr Hague's statement to MPs also covered other areas in the Middle East. |
| There is a risk, he said, that governments would draw what he called the "wrong conclusions" from events and "pull back" from efforts to restart the peace process between Israelis and Palestinians. | There is a risk, he said, that governments would draw what he called the "wrong conclusions" from events and "pull back" from efforts to restart the peace process between Israelis and Palestinians. |
| "We need to see an urgent return to talks so that legitimate aspirations for two states can be fulfilled through negotiations." | "We need to see an urgent return to talks so that legitimate aspirations for two states can be fulfilled through negotiations." |
| The foreign secretary went on to call the attention of MPs to Iran and what he called "the grave danger of its nuclear programme". | The foreign secretary went on to call the attention of MPs to Iran and what he called "the grave danger of its nuclear programme". |
| 'Peaceful pressure' | |
| The Iranians had not made meaningful concessions in recent talks, he said. | The Iranians had not made meaningful concessions in recent talks, he said. |
| "We are now in talks with international partners about steps to increase the legitimate peaceful pressure on Iran." | "We are now in talks with international partners about steps to increase the legitimate peaceful pressure on Iran." |
| Later, amid reports of protests in Iran, Mr Hague issued a statement in which he said he had seen reports of "peaceful demonstrators being assaulted by Iranian security forces". | |
| He said: "President Ahmadinejad last Friday told the Egyptian people that they had the right to express their own views about their country. | |
| "I call on the Iranian authorities to allow their own people the same right and to ensure that the security authorities exercise restraint." |