France wants Egypt democracy, not Iran-style ‘dictatorship’

French President Nicolas Sarkozy said Thursday he hoped Egypt will move towards democracy and not end up with Iran-style religious “dictatorship.”

“I hope with all my heart that the nascent democracy in Egypt will take the time to give itself political formations… to move along the road to democracy and not towards religious dictatorship like in Iran,” he said in an interview.

Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak said Thursday he had delegated power to his deputy and proposed constitutional changes but stopped short of resigning, infuriating protesters who had urged him to go.