Iran Expresses Sympathy for Recent Deaths in Egypt
TEHRAN (Tasnim) - Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Seyed Abbas Araqchi expressed sorrow over the killing of dozens of people in recent clashes in Egypt, and urged all parties to safeguard national solidarity.
“The Islamic Republic of Iran is closely following the developments in Egypt, expresses sorrow over the killing of a number of people in recent days, and calls on all Egyptian sides to exercise restraint and avoid violence,” Araqchi said on Saturday.
He also called on all Egyptian parties and leaders to respect national solidarity, people’s basic rights, and democratic principles to pave the way for dialogue and national reconciliation.
The Iranian official’s remarks came after dozens of Egyptian people were killed in clashes during rival demonstrations by the supporters and opponents of ousted President Mohamed Morsi on Saturday.
According to Muslim Brotherhood –Morsi’s party- and Egyptian medical sources, at least 150 people have been killed and 5,200 others injured in recent violent clashes across the country.
Mass rallies by Morsi’s supporters were held on Friday in response to Muslim Brotherhood’s call for a “peaceful stand” against the recent military “coup” that toppled Morsi. In a statement on Thursday, the movement’s leader, Mohamed Badie, asked Egyptians to come to the streets and demand freedom and legitimacy.
On July 3, army chief General Abdel Fattah al-Sisi announced that President Mohamed Morsi was no longer in office and declared that the head of the Supreme Constitutional Court, Adly Mansour, had been appointed as the new interim president of Egypt. The army also suspended the constitution.
Scores of people have been killed ever since in almost daily clashes between supporters of the deposed president, his opponents, and the country’s security forces.
