Rosenthal says Mubarak’s promise is ‘first step’

ANKARA – The Dutch Minister for Foreign Affairs Uri Rosenthal says it’s up to the Egyptian people to decide who is in power in Egypt and when free elections are to be held. He called the promise by President Mubarak to not run for the presidency in September ‘a first step’. ‘After that, other steps must follow, that’s only logical after a first step. But precisely when and how, that’s up to the people.’

Rosenthal made his remarks in Turkey, where he paying a visit to his Turkish counterpart Davutoglu. He will also visit Turkish President Gül. Turkish Prime Minister Erdoğan called on Mubarak to listen to the will of the people and step down immediately. Rosenthal couldn’t be drawn to say the same.