The EU urged Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh to step down and transit power.

In a statement issued on Tuesday EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton said “contrary to earlier commitments, freedom of expression and security of peaceful demonstrators is not being guaranteed.”

The move came after 19 were killed in anti-government protests on Monday when the local police used tear gas and live bullets.

Addressing Yemeni President Saleh, the EU official reiterated her call for an orderly political transition to begin without delay. “The Government and the security forces must respect and protect all human rights and fundamental freedoms,” reads the statement posted on EU website.