Demonstrators supporting Egypt's ousted Islamist president Mohamed Morsi hold Egyptian flags (L) from a car plastered with Morsi posters during a rally against the crackdown on protesters in Egypt in central London on August 17, 2013. (AFP)
LONDON (AFP) – British Foreign Secretary William Hague on Saturday said Britain condemned all acts of violence in Egypt, whether by the security forces or demonstrators, and called attacks on mosques and churches "unacceptable".
Hague made the comments in a phone call with his Egyptian counterpart Nabil Fahmy, the Foreign Office in London said.
"The foreign secretary and the Egyptian foreign minister spoke about the tragic violence and loss of life over recent days," a spokeswoman for the ministry said in a statement.
"The foreign secretary emphasised UK condemnation of all acts of violence, whether disproportionate use of force by the security forces or violent actions by some demonstrators.
"They also discussed the recent attacks on places of worship and the foreign secretary stressed that attacks on mosques and churches were unacceptable and that places of worship must be protected."
Egyptian police cleared Islamist protesters from a Cairo mosque on Saturday after a standoff that included exchanges of fire, as the death toll from four days of violence surpassed 750.
"The foreign secretary noted the Egyptian government's stated commitment to the political roadmap published on July 4, based on dialogue between all parties who accepted peaceful political processes," the spokeswoman said.
"He underlined the need for urgent steps by all sides to end the violence and enable a return to dialogue. The foreign secretary also emphasised the EU's collective determination to support a peaceful resolution of the situation."
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