EU chief backs Arab revolts, more aid

BRUSSELS, March 4 (UPI) -- The European Union's chief executive is calling for Moammar Gadhafi to quit and praising the revolt of Arab youth.

"I want to say this particularly to the young Arabs that are now fighting for freedom and democracy: We are on your side," European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso, who took part in the 1974 Portuguese Revolution as a young man, said in Brussels.

"I think Europe would rather be guilty of holding on to dreams of democracy than to be accused of cynicism," the EUobserver quoted him as saying.

Barroso said he would increase emergency funding to feed and shelter refugees from Libya and to help Italy and Malta cope with the influx.

He also said he would push EU leaders at their summit on Libya next week to increase aid to newly democratizing countries and relax visa rules for students, academics, non-government organization workers and "bona fide" businessmen.