Egypt Prime Minister apologises for violence

Egypt's Prime Minister Ahmed Shafiq has apologised for the fighting between pro- and anti-government demonstrators in Cairo's Tahrir Square, which killed five people and wounded several hundred.



Shafiq has also pledged to investigate the violence, which he described as a fatal error.



He says the people behind the violence will be held accountable as there is no excuse whatsoever to attack peaceful protesters.



The protesters are demanding that President Hosni Mubarak, who has ruled for 30 years, step down immediately.



Mubarak has said that he will serve out his current presidential term, which ends in September, but will not run for re-election.



Meanwhile, the leaders of France, Germany, Britain, Italy and Spain have issued a joint statement condemning the violence and calling for a political transition that must start now.