China paper urges Egypt to avoid 'nightmarish' instability

An official Chinese newspaper on Saturday called for stability in Egypt after the fall of President Hosni Mubarak and said foreigners should keep from intervening, offering Beijing's first reaction to the Egyptian leader's resignation.

"Given Egypt's status as a major Arab power of pivotal strategic importance, if the current situation continues to deteriorate, it will not only be nightmarish for the 80 million Egyptians, but also perilous to regional peace and stability," the China Daily newspaper said in an editorial. (Reuters)