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Egypt crisis: William Hague calls for 'restraint' UK will work with Egypt's new rulers, says William Hague
(about 11 hours later)
UK Foreign Secretary William Hague has called on "all sides" in Egypt "to show restraint and avoid violence" after its army ousted President Mohammed Morsi. William Hague has said the UK "will work with the people in authority in Egypt" but condemned the ousting of its president as "a dangerous thing".
He said he did not "support military intervention as a way to resolve disputes in a democratic system". The foreign secretary told the BBC the UK wanted to see a civilian-led government in Egypt.
But he called on all parties to show "leadership and vision" to "restore and renew Egypt's democratic transition". But he said "we have to work with whoever is in authority" to protect Britons and UK firms in Egypt.
The UK continues to advise British citizens to avoid all non-essential travel to most of Egypt, he said. Egypt's first democratically elected president, Mohammed Morsi, was ousted by its army on Wednesday night.
In a TV address earlier, the head of Egypt's army, Gen Abdul Fattah al-Sisi, announced that President Mohammed Morsi was no longer in office. It followed mass protests against his government - elected following the 2011 revolution and ousting of former president Hosni Mubarak.
He said Mr Morsi had "failed to meet the demands of the Egyptian people". 'Dangerous precedent'
Mr Hague told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "We don't support military intervention as a way to resolve disputes in a democratic system.
"It's of course a dangerous precedent to do that, if one president can be deposed by the military then of course another one can be in the future - that's a dangerous thing.
"It's happened so we have to recognise now the situation will move on."
He said it was for political leaders and others to make sure changes were made to ensure the constitution and elections were respected by all, and improve the Egyptian economy.
"We recognise states not governments. We recognise the state of Egypt and we have to work with whoever is in authority in Egypt, we have to do that for the safety of British nationals we have to do that because there are so many British companies there. There isn't really any question of not recognising a particular government."
He said he could "make our views clear" but had to recognise it was a popular intervention as there had been "enormous dissatisfaction" in Egypt and the situation would now "move on".
"We don't support military interventions but we will work with the people in authority in Egypt."
Great turbulence
Mr Hague rejected suggestions that sometimes Western models of democracy should not replace autocratic regimes, which provided stability: "No, I don't think so because stability in the long run comes from democratic institutions and the broad acceptance of a democratic constitution.
"The autocratic regimes that we saw across North Africa, that we saw over the last few decades didn't bring stability of course, because they didn't bring political freedom, they didn't bring economic opportunity for their citizens... stability comes from democratic institutions."
But the route to those democratic institutions could be complicated he said - "What's happening in the Arab Spring may well take a generation and there will be upheavals, there will be great turbulence from time to time.
"I think we have to have the strategic patience to live with that and work with that, and respect the fact people are having debates we had in Europe for hundreds of years about the role of religion in the state."
He added: "Autocracy cannot be the way of the future in the 21st Century and it doesn't bring stability for British interests."
In a TV address on Wednesday evening, the head of Egypt's army, Gen Abdul Fattah al-Sisi, announced that President Mohammed Morsi was no longer in office having "failed to meet the demands of the Egyptian people".
The constitution had been suspended and Mr Morsi's powers would be taken on by the chief justice of the constitutional court, he said.The constitution had been suspended and Mr Morsi's powers would be taken on by the chief justice of the constitutional court, he said.
'Political process'
Mr Hague said in a statement: "The situation is clearly dangerous and we call on all sides to show restraint and avoid violence.
"We continue to advise British citizens to avoid all non-essential travel to Egypt apart from the Red Sea resorts, and to monitor travel advice from the Foreign Office."
He added: "The chance of a democratic future was hard won for Egypt by the Egyptian people two-and-a-half years ago."
He said it was vital for all parties "to respond to the strong desire of the Egyptian people for faster economic and political progress for their country.
"In our view this must involve a political process that includes all groups on an equal footing, leading to early and fair elections which all parties are able to contest, and civilian-led government.
"I urge Egypt's leaders to show a real determination to work together to make this happen in a way that they have not done in recent months."
He said that, "in the long run, only democratic processes and government by consent will bring the stability and prosperity that the people of Egypt seek".
UK Foreign Office advice urges Britons to avoid all but essential travel to most parts of Egypt and calls on those already there to consider whether they need to remain.UK Foreign Office advice urges Britons to avoid all but essential travel to most parts of Egypt and calls on those already there to consider whether they need to remain.
The resorts which are not covered by the advice are:The resorts which are not covered by the advice are: