NEW YORK, (Reuters) – In a meeting with Egypt’s foreign minister, U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon said on Friday the country’s upcoming elections should be held in a credible and transparent manner, according to a statement from his office.

Meeting with Egyptian Foreign Minister Mohammed el-Orabi, Ban called for an “acceleration in judicial procedures” in Egypt against those responsible for killing civilians.

Tens of thousands of Egyptians packed city centres across the country on Friday to demand faster reforms and voice frustration at what they regard as foot-dragging by military rulers and government officials.

Anger has been building among ordinary Egyptians and activists over the time taken to prosecute Hosni Mubarak and former officials charged with corruption and killing demonstrators during the uprising that toppled the president.

Egypt’s interim Prime Minister Essam Sharaf has signalled that his country’s parliamentary elections will be held in late September.

The meeting between Ban and el-Orabi took place in Juba, South Sudan, which celebrated its birth as a nation on Saturday following a vote for independence from Kartoum.