British Foreign Secretary William Hague on Sunday congratulated Mohamed Morsi on his "historic" victory in Egypt's election, and called on the new leader to respect the rights of its citizens.

"I congratulate the Egyptian people for their commitment to the democratic process and electing a new president," Hague said in a statement issued by the Foreign Office.

The minister called it "an historic moment for Egypt" and welcomed Morsi's pledge to form an inclusive government, wishing him "success in the challenging task ahead".

"It will be important for the new government to stand for national unity and reconciliation, to build bridges across Egyptian society and to uphold human rights, including the rights of women and religious minorities, and the rule of law," stressed Hague. [AFP]