Choose reform not repression, Mubarak urged

David Cameron kept up the pressure on embattled Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak yesterday, warning that any attempt to silence anti-government protesters by repression would "end badly" for Egypt and the world.

But the Prime Minister stopped short of calling for Mr Mubarak to quit, although the crisis has left about 100 dead and forced consular staff to increase their efforts to help Britons flee.

Mr Mubarak swore in a new cabinet yesterday, but the move was unlikely to appease the tens of thousands of protesters who have defied a curfew to demand his removal from office.

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Organisers have called for a million people to join protest rallies today as their campaign moves into a second week.

The call came as military spokesman Ismail Etman underlined that the military "has not and will not use force against the public" and was "conscious of the legitimate demands by honourable citizens" – although he did not specify whether the military considered the demands for Mr Mubarak's removal legitimate.

Mr Cameron advised the Egyptian authorities to "go down the path of reform and not repression".

"I have spoken to President Mubarak and had a conversation with President Obama last night," he said, "and we were very much agreed that we want the response of the Egyptian government to be that there needs to be a proper orderly transition to a more democratic situation, where there are greater rights, greater freedoms, better rule of law and that sort of reform, to show to people in Egypt that their concerns and their aspirations are being listened to."

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Although there were fears that Egypt might eventually fall into the hands of extremists, Mr Cameron said it was not for Britain or the US to say who should run the country.

"But," he added, "I think in the conversations we have with President Mubarak and others it is sensible to say 'You do have a choice here. 'This repression – if you opt for that, that will end badly for Egypt, badly for the world. It is the wrong choice'."

Foreign Secretary William Hague, arriving for EU talks in Brussels, said: "We don't want Egypt to fall into the hands of extremists.

"That is why we want an orderly transition to free and fair elections, and greater freedom and democracy in Egypt. Then I think we need to rely on the good sense of the people of Egypt. Who they elect is their concern."

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In the Commons, Foreign Office Minister Alistair Burt in the Commons played down the significance of barricades being erected at some hotels in Red Sea resorts such as Sharm el Sheikh, where about two thirds of the 30,000 Britons in Egypt are staying.

There had been no serious disturbances, Mr Burt said, but hotels had taken precautions because their guests were "slightly alarmed".

The Foreign Office has advised against all but essential travel to Cairo, Alexandria, Luxor and Suez. Britons without a pressing need to be in Cairo, Alexandria or Suez are recommended to leave.

Mr Burt said Cairo airport was open, but flights were delayed and about 30 Britons were expected to spend the night in the terminal before flying home today. The Government had not chartered planes to fly home nationals, unlike the US.

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Middle East peace envoy Tony Blair said change in Egypt was inevitable but it was important to ensure it arrived in an orderly way. He said Mr Mubarak had done an "immense amount" for the peace process but it was not "sustainable" for out-of-touch elites to continue "governing in the way they've been governing for decades".

The crisis has led to growing uncertainty in global markets, pushing oil prices higher and causing shares in the travel sector to slump.

Thomson owner TUI Travel, Thomas Cook and British Airways owner International Consolidated Airlines Group all came under pressure yesterday as flights were delayed and holidays cancelled.

Anti-putin protest in moscow square

Hundreds of police surrounded a square in the centre of Moscow yesterday as protesters gathered to demand the ejection of Russian prime minister Vladimir Putin.

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Several prominent opposition figures were among the hundreds of demonstrators, including Boris Nemtsov, who was one of 68 people arrested following a similar protest on December 31.

The arrest of Mr Nemtsov, who was jailed for 15 days, was condemned in the West and mobilised his supporters, The demonstrations are held on the last day of every month with 31 days to echo the 31st Article of Russia's Constitution, which guarantees freedom of assembly.