(19 Aug 2013) Humanitarian groups around the world held protests on Monday to call for an end to the violence and bloodshed in Egypt.
About a thousand Indonesians rallied in the capital, Jakarta, denouncing violence by Egyptian security forces that has killed hundreds of civilian supporters of ousted President Mohammed Morsi.
The National Committee for Humanitarian and Egypt Democracy called on the Indonesian government as well as the international community and human rights groups to help stop the bloodshed, which has killed almost a thousand people on both sides.
They protesters rallied at the Hotel Indonesia traffic circle before marching to the Egyptian Embassy.
Some also waved placards supporting Morsi.
"Indonesia as a country with a majority Muslim population and one of the largest democracies in the world," said Hidayat Nurwahid, a Muslim leader.
"Indonesia is believed by Western society and the Middle East. Indonesia should have the courage to step up to bring order and peace to the world," he added.
Similar protests condemning the violence in Egypt have been held in Jakarta and other cities across the world's most populous Muslim country this week.
Meanwhile, Thai nationals living in Egypt were greeted by relatives at Bangkok international airport on Monday, having chosen to leave Cairo in the face of worsening political violence.
Haris Matima, a 20-year-old student at Cairo's Al-Azhar University, said the escalating unrest had forced him to return home.
"My parents worried about me, but most important was the lack of food supplies and there were forcible clashes," he said.
Meanwhile, Amnesty International leaders met in the German capital, Berlin, on Monday to voice their concerns about violations of basic human rights in Egypt.
The human-rights group staged a protest focusing in particular on ending sexual violence against women in Egypt.
Amnesty International's secretary-general, Salil Shetty, urged both sides in Egypt to respect the rights of the country's people.
"To the government we are saying that they have to stop excessive use of force. There has to be a process of following international human rights standards," he said.
European Union foreign ministers are due to hold an emergency meeting on Wednesday to forge a joint response to the recent violence in Egypt.
Top EU officials have said the bloc will "urgently review" its relations with Egypt, with some officials calling for aid and other forms of co-operation to be suspended.
The EU is a major source of aid, loans, business and tourists for Egypt.
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