Hague visits Tunisia as Egypt protests continue

William Hague is visiting the region at a time of “great opportunity”, the Foreign Office said. He will visit five other countries in the Middle East and North Africa region during the three day trip.

He plans to meet leaders in Tunisia‘s interim Government, and to pledge support for the country’s democratic aspirations.

Protests in Tunisia sparked unrest across the region and saw the resignation of its President, Zine El Abadine Ben Ali. The success of the protests inspired similar uprisings in areas including Jordan, the Yemen, and Egypt – causing different levels of regime change in these countries as well.

Mr Hague will pledge the UK’s support for the people of Tunisia in their democratic aspirations. Foreign Office

The Foreign Office said Mr Hague will “focus on calls for greater political openness and economic development in the Middle East in the light of recent events in Tunisia and Egypt“.

In Tunisia, he will meet Prime Minister Ghannouchi and International Co-operation Minister Jouini and will pledge UK support, and funding, to support reform projects across the Middle East which improve access to justice, freedom of expression, democratic institutions and civil society.

Read more in the Channel 4 News Special Report Arab revolt: Middle East uprisings

The Foreign Office said: “The Coalition Government has invested significant time and effort since taking office to intensifying the UK’s historic partnerships in the Middle East and Gulf as part of a distinctive and long term British foreign policy towards the region. The visit will seek to further strengthen these ties.”

Egypt

Mr Hague’s trip to the region comes as protesters remain on the streets of Cairo in Egypt.

However, there are some suggestions that their protests are running out of impetus as President Hosni Mubarak continues to cling to power and some Egyptians begin to get back to their normal lives.

The opposition is in talks with Vice President Omar Suleiman but the protesters have vowed to stay in Tahrir Square until President Mubarak quits. In the face of the two-week long protests, in which 300 people have died, the 82-year old President has said he will not run in the September elections – but he fears “chaos” if he leaves his country now.

Channel 4 News Presenter Krishnan Guru-Murthy, in Egypt, spoke to protesters and heard their allegations of torture and their aims for the future.

Middle East unrest: Egypt and Tunisia to Jordan and Yemen