EU Foreign Ministers at their meeting in Brussels on Monday called on Egypt’s army to stand aside and allow a peaceful transition to civilian rule after ousting Mohamed Morsi earlier this month. Expressing deep concern over developments in Egypt, the ministers said "the armed forces should not play a political role in a democracy", instead, they "must accept and respect the constitutional authority of civilian power as a basic principle". The ministers said it is now of utmost importance that Egypt embarks on a transition, allowing a transfer of power to a civilian-led and democratically elected government.

Army soldiers take their positions on the bridge towards members of the Muslim Brotherhood and supporters of Mursi standing guard around Cairo University and Nahdet Misr Square in Giza. (Photo: Reuters)

EU Foreign Ministers also called for an end to politically motivated arrests and the release of all political detainees, including overthrown Morsi.