15. Juli 2013 · Kommentare deaktiviert für Kairo: „Police fire tear gas at protesters“ · Kategorien: Ägypten · Tags:

Police fire tear gas at protesters in Cairo

Clashes break out on the same day that US Deputy Secretary of State William Burns meets Egypt’s interim president.

Egyptian security forces have fired tear gas in central Cairo on after scuffles broke out between supporters of ousted Islamist president Mohamed Morsi and locals in the area of Ramses Street, eye witnesses said.

Monday’s was the first violent confrontation involving pro-Morsi protesters for a week. Last Monday, 53 pro-Morsi demonstrators were killed outside the Republican Guard compound in Cairo.

Four soldiers also died in the clash.

Earlier on Monday, US Deputy Secretary of State William Burns made the first senior level visit to Egypt by a US official since Islamist President Mohammed Morsi was overthrown by the military on July 3 following days of mass protests.

Burns held talks on Monday with Egypt’s interim leaders and the head of the military.

Washington has been sharply criticised by both Morsi’s supporters and opponents for what each side perceives as support for their rival’s position.

„Only Egyptians can determine their future. I did not come with American solutions, nor did I come to lecture anyone. We know that Egyptians must forge their own path to democracy. We know that this will not mirror our own and we will not try to impose our model on Egypt,“ Burns said.

However, Burns added that the US would „stand behind certain basic principles, not any particular personalities or parties.“

He said that the US backs those siding with the aspirations of Egyptians who went out during the 2011 uprising against longtime autocratic leader Hosni Mubarak.

Maximum restraint

Burns said that despite concerns about developments of the last two weeks, the US believed that the ongoing transition was an opportunity, following the 2011 revolution, to create a democratic state that „protects human rights and the rule of law and that enables the economic prosperity of its citizens“.

„We support the adoption of reforms that can lead to an early IMF agreement while sustaining funding for social safety net programmes,“ he said.

The US deputy secretary went on to condemn violence at demonstrations in the Sinai and sectarian violence, calling on maximum restraint by security forces.

Burns was speaking after holding talks with army chief Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, military-appointed president Adly Mansour and caretaker prime minister Hazem al-Beblawi.

Tamarod, the movement that spearheaded the grassroots campaign against Morsi, said it rejected an invitation to meet the US envoy on Monday, citing Washington’s „interference“ in Egypt and its failure to support their cause from the outset.

„We rejected the invitation… because the United States did not stand with the Egyptian people from the beginning,“ Islam Hammam, one of the group’s organisers, told AFP news agency.

Burns maintained previous US statements and refrained from saying Morsi was the victim of a coup. If the US terms the deposing of Morsi a coup, it would legally be required to freeze some $1.5bn in US military and economic assistance to Cairo.

On Sunday, two influential US Republican senators, Lindsey Graham and John McCain, urged the administration to cut American aid to Egypt in response to the army’s ouster of Morsi.

Demonstrations continue

By early evening, pro-Morsi protesters were starting to arrive outside Cairo’s Rabaa al-Adawiya mosque, where tens of thousands have been rallying for the past two weeks.

Another Brotherhood official said protesters planned to march on the Republican Guards headquarters, scene of the July 8 violence.

The demonstration was to begin after the iftar evening meal when Muslims break their Ramadan fast.

Counter-demonstrations by Morsi opponents are also planned in Tahrir Square, although the epicentre of the 2011 uprising that ousted veteran strongman Hosni Mubarak remained relatively quiet at nightfall.

During his single year of turbulent rule, Morsi was accused of concentrating power in Brotherhood hands, sending the economy into freefall and failing to protect minorities.

But his supporters say his overthrow was an affront to democracy.

via Police fire tear gas at protesters in Cairo

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