Egypt calls for peaceful transition in Syria

TEHRAN - Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi on Thursday called for peaceful transition to democratic system in Syria.

Morsi made the remarks in the opening ceremony of the 16th Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) summit in Tehran.

He called for a Syria without discrimination and with a future in which all parties can participate in the political structure, adding that bloodshed in Syria would only end if there were " effective interference" from outside.

The Syrian delegation to the NAM summit walked out during the address of Morsi, who described the Syrian government as " oppressive", the pan-Arab Al Jazeera television reported.

Morsi added that the parties involved in the struggle for transition in Syria should avoid bloodshed and civil war, noting that "We are ready to help put an end to more bloodshed in Syria."

He also called for reforms of the UN structure and bigger participation of the NAM in the UN Security Council, saying that Africa must have a permanent representative in the UN Security Council.

Meanwhile, Morsi said that Egypt supports the Palestinians' bid for full membership in the United Nations, adding that Egypt will support the formation of a Palestinian state.

The Egyptian president voiced hope that the region will be free from nuclear weapons and WMDs (Weapons of Mass Destruction), calling for the global implementation of Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).

In the meantime, respect for peaceful use of nuclear energy must be observed, he added.

He also expressed hope that Iran will work to maintain solidarity among the NAM member states.

On Thursday, the Islamic republic officially assumed the NAM presidency.

In the opening ceremony of the NAM summit in Tehran, Morsi handed over the NAM's rotating presidency to Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.