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Egypt army 'restoring democracy', says John Kerry | |
(about 9 hours later) | |
US Secretary of State John Kerry has said Egypt's military was "restoring democracy" when it ousted elected President Mohammed Morsi last month. | US Secretary of State John Kerry has said Egypt's military was "restoring democracy" when it ousted elected President Mohammed Morsi last month. |
Mr Kerry said the removal was at the request of "millions and millions of people". | Mr Kerry said the removal was at the request of "millions and millions of people". |
His remarks came as police prepare to disperse two pro-Morsi sit-ins in the capital, Cairo. | His remarks came as police prepare to disperse two pro-Morsi sit-ins in the capital, Cairo. |
Egypt's interior ministry has promised Mr Morsi's supporters "safe exit" if they quickly leave the camps. | Egypt's interior ministry has promised Mr Morsi's supporters "safe exit" if they quickly leave the camps. |
The country's cabinet on Wednesday ordered police to end the protests, calling them a "national security threat". | The country's cabinet on Wednesday ordered police to end the protests, calling them a "national security threat". |
'Asked to intervene' | 'Asked to intervene' |
Washington has refused to describe Mr Morsi's removal as a "coup". Doing so would require the US government to cut off its estimated $1.5bn (£1bn) in annual aid to Egypt. | Washington has refused to describe Mr Morsi's removal as a "coup". Doing so would require the US government to cut off its estimated $1.5bn (£1bn) in annual aid to Egypt. |
Correspondents say Mr Kerry's latest comments will be seen in Egypt as supportive of the interim government. | Correspondents say Mr Kerry's latest comments will be seen in Egypt as supportive of the interim government. |
In an television interview in Pakistan, Mr Kerry said: "The military was asked to intervene by millions and millions of people, all of whom were afraid of a descendance into chaos, into violence. | In an television interview in Pakistan, Mr Kerry said: "The military was asked to intervene by millions and millions of people, all of whom were afraid of a descendance into chaos, into violence. |
"And the military did not take over, to the best of our judgement - so far. To run the country, there's a civilian government. In effect, they were restoring democracy." | "And the military did not take over, to the best of our judgement - so far. To run the country, there's a civilian government. In effect, they were restoring democracy." |
Mr Kerry also warned against further bloodshed, according to AFP news agency. | Mr Kerry also warned against further bloodshed, according to AFP news agency. |
He said Washington was "very, very concerned" about the killing of dozens of pro-Morsi protesters in clashes with security forces, calling it "absolutely unacceptable". | He said Washington was "very, very concerned" about the killing of dozens of pro-Morsi protesters in clashes with security forces, calling it "absolutely unacceptable". |
Thousands of supporters of Mr Morsi have defied new warnings from the military-backed cabinet by continuing their sit-ins. | Thousands of supporters of Mr Morsi have defied new warnings from the military-backed cabinet by continuing their sit-ins. |
The main protest camp is at a square near the Rabaa al-Adawiya mosque in the capital's north-east, where clashes left some 70 people dead last Saturday, and in Nahda Square near the main campus of Cairo University. | The main protest camp is at a square near the Rabaa al-Adawiya mosque in the capital's north-east, where clashes left some 70 people dead last Saturday, and in Nahda Square near the main campus of Cairo University. |
Demonstrators there have already ignored previous threats of dispersal. | Demonstrators there have already ignored previous threats of dispersal. |
They want to see Mr Morsi - Egypt's first democratically elected president - reinstated. The Islamist leader was removed by the army on 3 July, after just one year in office. | They want to see Mr Morsi - Egypt's first democratically elected president - reinstated. The Islamist leader was removed by the army on 3 July, after just one year in office. |
It came after mass rallies in which millions of Egyptians calling for his removal took to the streets. | It came after mass rallies in which millions of Egyptians calling for his removal took to the streets. |
Egypt's interior ministry released a statement on Thursday saying it called "on those in Rabaa al-Adawiya and Nahda squares to let reason and the national interest prevail, and to quickly leave". | Egypt's interior ministry released a statement on Thursday saying it called "on those in Rabaa al-Adawiya and Nahda squares to let reason and the national interest prevail, and to quickly leave". |
The ministry "pledges a safe exit and full protection to whoever responds to this appeal", it added. | The ministry "pledges a safe exit and full protection to whoever responds to this appeal", it added. |
Ministry spokesman Hany Abdel Latif told Reuters there was "no specified date" for the removal. | Ministry spokesman Hany Abdel Latif told Reuters there was "no specified date" for the removal. |
Protesters 'determined' | |
Supporters of Mr Morsi and his Muslim Brotherhood movement have remained defiant. | Supporters of Mr Morsi and his Muslim Brotherhood movement have remained defiant. |
Essam el-Erian, vice-president of the Freedom and Justice Party, the Brotherhood's political wing, said the protesters would not be deterred. | Essam el-Erian, vice-president of the Freedom and Justice Party, the Brotherhood's political wing, said the protesters would not be deterred. |
"There are expectations of a massacre taking place in front of the eyes of the whole world," he said. | "There are expectations of a massacre taking place in front of the eyes of the whole world," he said. |
"The free people in Egypt and the world must stand against this stupid cabinet mandate for the police to end the sit-in protests." | "The free people in Egypt and the world must stand against this stupid cabinet mandate for the police to end the sit-in protests." |
An African Union delegation confirmed on Wednesday that it had met Mr Morsi, who has not been seen in public since being ousted. | An African Union delegation confirmed on Wednesday that it had met Mr Morsi, who has not been seen in public since being ousted. |
He had received no official visitors until Tuesday, when he met EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton who said he was "well". | He had received no official visitors until Tuesday, when he met EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton who said he was "well". |
The ousted leader has been formally remanded in custody at an undisclosed location, according to a judicial order. | The ousted leader has been formally remanded in custody at an undisclosed location, according to a judicial order. |
He has been accused of the "premeditated murder of some prisoners, officers and soldiers" when he and several Muslim Brotherhood leaders were freed during a breakout at a Cairo prison in January 2011. | He has been accused of the "premeditated murder of some prisoners, officers and soldiers" when he and several Muslim Brotherhood leaders were freed during a breakout at a Cairo prison in January 2011. |
He is alleged to have plotted attacks on jails in the uprising that overthrew President Hosni Mubarak. | He is alleged to have plotted attacks on jails in the uprising that overthrew President Hosni Mubarak. |
Mr Morsi is also accused of conspiring with the Palestinian militant group Hamas, which governs the Gaza Strip and has strong links with the Muslim Brotherhood. | Mr Morsi is also accused of conspiring with the Palestinian militant group Hamas, which governs the Gaza Strip and has strong links with the Muslim Brotherhood. |
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