Foreign Minister Ahmed Abou Al-Gheit telephoned Prime Minister Fouad Siniora late on Wednesday to voice Egypt's support, several newspapers reported on Thursday, as anti-government protests in Beirut entered a second day.
"Egypt supports the Lebanese government, as a constitutional institution charged with looking after Lebanese affairs and with taking the necessary measures to prevent its power and credibility being damaged," he said.
Abou Al-Gheit also telephoned the leader of the pro-government Future Movement Saad Hariri, to stress "the need for restraint and to avoid confrontations of a sectarian nature."
"The party that is pushing for confrontation (the opposition) and which persists along this path with disregard for civil peace will surely bear the historic responsibility for its actions," he told Hariri.
Protesters blocked roads in Beirut on Thursday and forced Lebanon's only international airport to close in a major escalation of a long-running political crisis.
Egypt will continue its contacts with Lebanese officials in order to contain the situation, the foreign ministry said.
Tags: Ahmed Abul Gheit, Egypt, Fouad Siniora, Hezbollah, Saad Hariri
