Australia calls for open elections in Egypt

Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard said on Saturday that Egypt must now have a clear timetable for holding free and fair elections after the resignation of President Hosni Mubarak.

Egypt is under military rule following the resignation of President Mubarak on Friday night, which saw the celebration of the sweep of Egypt and the world.

More than a million demonstrators gathered Cairo's central Tahrir Square on the 18 th day of mass protests across the country, demanding the overthrow Mubarak.

In accordance with a joint statement released on Saturday, Gillard and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Kevin Rudd, fundamental reform is needed in Egypt to provide the opportunity and freedom that ordinary Egyptians called.

"Australia calls for constitutional reform and a clear timetable for free and fair elections and representative of the civilian government that ordinary Egyptians have called for," the statement said.

Couples said that all Australians have been moved to "the joy that we saw in Tahrir Square in Cairo."

Earlier Saturday, Rudd said that the resignation of Mubarak historic event, and this time of great celebration for the Egyptian people.

Rudd said the Australian Government welcomes the courage of the Egyptian people and looks forward to cooperating with the authorities in Egypt on the future of Egyptian democracy.

However, he warned that there were many open questions facing the Egyptian people and the international community.

Rudd told ABC Radio, that the issues include the precise role of the military council now pave the way for democratic elections, which extends the role of the interim Cabinet appointed by then President Mubarak and Vice President Suleyman? Will the new interim government appointed for the purpose of making changes to the Constitution of Egypt to hold elections? And fourthly, what will schedule an election?

Rudd said that the process towards democratic reforms and hold free and fair elections should be clear as soon as possible.