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reuters

MUNICH (Reuters) - The United Nations on Sunday drove home the warning from Western nations that a transition to democracy in Egypt should not be rushed to avoid worsening the crisis and destabilising the entire Middle East.

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon backed up calls at a security conference in Munich from the United States and Europe for a rapid change of power in Egypt followed by a more sedate transition through democracy and eventually free elections.

Ban told reporters he had urged authorities in Cairo "to make the necessary changes and reforms as soon as possible. I hope the leaders of Egypt heed the calls of their own people".

That was in tune with the message delivered in Munich by U.S. Secretary Hillary Clinton, Britain's David Cameron and Germany's Angela Merkel that 82-year-old President Hosni Mubarak should step down now, if that is what the Egyptian people want.

"The more this is put off, the more we are likely to get an Egypt that we wouldn't welcome," said Cameron.

"There will be a change in Egypt," said Merkel, who added that it would be remiss of the international community "not to side with people who are speaking out against injustice".

But Western leaders and diplomats were careful to emphasize that it should be the Egyptians who decide.

The U.N. secretary-general, asked about the debate over whether Mubarak should leave immediately as protesters demand or stay to oversee reform, answered: "It's something which should be left to the Egyptian people."