Washington The White House on Wednesday condemned the violence against peaceful protesters in Egypt and called for restraint as chaos reigned in Cairo and hundreds were reported injured.
A day after President Hosni Mubarak appeared on state tv and announced that he would not contest presidential election one his tenure ends in September, violent clashes broke out between pro- and anti-Mubarak groups.
"The United States deplores and condemns the violence that is taking place in Egypt, and we are deeply concerned about attacks on the media and peaceful demonstrators," White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said in a statement.
"We repeat our strong call for restraint," Gibbs said.
The US reaction came as fresh reports said that hundreds of people were injured in the clashes, and media persons were also attacked by pro-Mubarak protesters.
President Barack Obama had early in the day called for Mubarak to start an orderly transition to a more representative government immediately.
European leaders also demanded that Mubarak should pay heed to the aspirations of the agitating Egyptians.
British Prime Minister David Cameron and Germany Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle expressed concern over the violence.
"If it turns out that the regime in any way has been sponsoring or tolerating this violence, that would be completely and utterly unacceptable," Cameron said.
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