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LequteMan
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There has been strong international condemnation of the bloody crackdown on protesters in Egypt, during which at least 278 people were reported killed.
The street protests arose due to the military's ousting of former president Mohammed Morsi- Egypt's first freely elected president on July 3 for the"premeditated murder of some prisoners, officers and soldiers" during a prison breakout in 2011 .
The demonstrators had been demanding the reinstatement of Mr Morsi and a state of emergency was declared and curfews were imposed in Egyptian cities. Protest sites were stormed by security forces and ammunition were seized from demonstrators.
The Muslim Brotherhood, which backed the rally in Nahda Square and near the Rabaa al-Adawiya mosque, said that more than 2,000 people were killed on Wednesday. The military-backed interim government, however said 235 civilians were killed nationwide, as well as 43 police officers.
EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton "strongly condemned" the violence and called for "utmost restraint".
US Secretary of State John Kerry said the events will leave a big dent in Egypt’s political reconciliation efforts. "This is a pivotal moment for all Egyptians," he said. "The path toward violence leads only to greater instability, economic disaster and suffering."
United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said in a statement that he was"well aware that the vast majority of the Egyptian people want their country to go forward peacefully in an Egyptian-led process towards prosperity and democracy," but regretted that the Egyptian authorities opted to respond to the demonstrations with force.
British Prime Minister David Cameron said the violence was "not going to solve anything". "What is required in Egypt is a genuine transition to a genuine democracy. That means compromise from all sides," he said.
German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle said the events were a “very dangerous" escalation of violence and France demanded an "immediate end to the repression".
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's office tagged the violence "a serious blow to the hopes of a return to democracy"
Egypt's Vice-President Mohammed ElBaradei resigned from the interim government immediately after the violence.
"I cannot continue in shouldering the responsibility for decisions I do not agree with and I fear their consequences.” He said in a statement.
Several Muslim Brotherhood leaders were reportedly detained, including Essam El-Erian and Mohamed El-Beltagi whose 17-year-old daughter was killed in the clashes.
Three members of the media were also killed.
The street protests arose due to the military's ousting of former president Mohammed Morsi- Egypt's first freely elected president on July 3 for the"premeditated murder of some prisoners, officers and soldiers" during a prison breakout in 2011 .
The demonstrators had been demanding the reinstatement of Mr Morsi and a state of emergency was declared and curfews were imposed in Egyptian cities. Protest sites were stormed by security forces and ammunition were seized from demonstrators.
The Muslim Brotherhood, which backed the rally in Nahda Square and near the Rabaa al-Adawiya mosque, said that more than 2,000 people were killed on Wednesday. The military-backed interim government, however said 235 civilians were killed nationwide, as well as 43 police officers.
EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton "strongly condemned" the violence and called for "utmost restraint".
US Secretary of State John Kerry said the events will leave a big dent in Egypt’s political reconciliation efforts. "This is a pivotal moment for all Egyptians," he said. "The path toward violence leads only to greater instability, economic disaster and suffering."
United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said in a statement that he was"well aware that the vast majority of the Egyptian people want their country to go forward peacefully in an Egyptian-led process towards prosperity and democracy," but regretted that the Egyptian authorities opted to respond to the demonstrations with force.
British Prime Minister David Cameron said the violence was "not going to solve anything". "What is required in Egypt is a genuine transition to a genuine democracy. That means compromise from all sides," he said.
German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle said the events were a “very dangerous" escalation of violence and France demanded an "immediate end to the repression".
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's office tagged the violence "a serious blow to the hopes of a return to democracy"
Egypt's Vice-President Mohammed ElBaradei resigned from the interim government immediately after the violence.
"I cannot continue in shouldering the responsibility for decisions I do not agree with and I fear their consequences.” He said in a statement.
Several Muslim Brotherhood leaders were reportedly detained, including Essam El-Erian and Mohamed El-Beltagi whose 17-year-old daughter was killed in the clashes.
Three members of the media were also killed.
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