This article is from the source 'nytimes' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/07/world/middleeast/us-sought-delay-of-morsis-ouster-egyptian-leader-says.html
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| U.S. Sought Delay of Morsi’s Ouster, Egyptian Leader Says | U.S. Sought Delay of Morsi’s Ouster, Egyptian Leader Says |
| (14 days later) | |
| CAIRO — Abdul Fattah el-Sisi, the former general who is poised to be elected Egypt’s president in next month’s elections, said in an interview broadcast Tuesday night that the American ambassador had asked him to hold off “for a day or two” before ousting the freely elected president, Mohamed Morsi of the Muslim Brotherhood, last July. | |
| Mr. Sisi said he had rebuffed the request, from Ambassador Anne W. Patterson, who is now the assistant secretary of state for Near Eastern affairs. | Mr. Sisi said he had rebuffed the request, from Ambassador Anne W. Patterson, who is now the assistant secretary of state for Near Eastern affairs. |
| His remarks, in the second part of a lengthy interview with two talk show hosts, was his first public confirmation that he had discussed the prospect of a military takeover with American officials in the days before it was carried out. | His remarks, in the second part of a lengthy interview with two talk show hosts, was his first public confirmation that he had discussed the prospect of a military takeover with American officials in the days before it was carried out. |
| American officials and Morsi advisers have said Obama administration officials and United States diplomats sought until the final hours before the Morsi government was toppled on July 3 to broker an agreement with Mr. Morsi that might have averted the takeover. | American officials and Morsi advisers have said Obama administration officials and United States diplomats sought until the final hours before the Morsi government was toppled on July 3 to broker an agreement with Mr. Morsi that might have averted the takeover. |
| A senior administration official, speaking Tuesday on the condition of anonymity because of diplomatic protocol, said Washington had held “extensive conversations with the government, the military and the opposition” at the time “to try to help resolve the crisis in Egypt without further escalation and violence.” But “none of the sides would compromise,” the official said. | A senior administration official, speaking Tuesday on the condition of anonymity because of diplomatic protocol, said Washington had held “extensive conversations with the government, the military and the opposition” at the time “to try to help resolve the crisis in Egypt without further escalation and violence.” But “none of the sides would compromise,” the official said. |
| Many of Mr. Sisi’s supporters accuse Washington of actively supporting the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt, in part because the Obama administration dealt with Mr. Morsi as the country’s legitimate leader. | Many of Mr. Sisi’s supporters accuse Washington of actively supporting the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt, in part because the Obama administration dealt with Mr. Morsi as the country’s legitimate leader. |
| But when pressed by his interviewers about that position, Mr. Sisi declined to endorse it. | But when pressed by his interviewers about that position, Mr. Sisi declined to endorse it. |
| Instead, he expressed some appreciation of the view among some in Washington that Mr. Morsi’s removal was a “coup.” He said he had urged United States officials to try to see it differently: “Look at us with Egyptian eyes.” | Instead, he expressed some appreciation of the view among some in Washington that Mr. Morsi’s removal was a “coup.” He said he had urged United States officials to try to see it differently: “Look at us with Egyptian eyes.” |
| “Don’t apply your culture, your regimes and your development” in evaluating Egypt, Mr. Sisi added, and he predicted improved relations after the coming elections. | “Don’t apply your culture, your regimes and your development” in evaluating Egypt, Mr. Sisi added, and he predicted improved relations after the coming elections. |
| At another point, Mr. Sisi said he had warned a senior United States official as early as March of last year that he believed the Brotherhood’s “time was up,” although he also said he held out hope until the afternoon of July 2 that Mr. Morsi might accept a referendum on his exit rather than imprisonment in a military jail. | At another point, Mr. Sisi said he had warned a senior United States official as early as March of last year that he believed the Brotherhood’s “time was up,” although he also said he held out hope until the afternoon of July 2 that Mr. Morsi might accept a referendum on his exit rather than imprisonment in a military jail. |