The Egyptian government allowed European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton to meet with ousted and hidden president Mohamed Morsi on Tuesday.
Ashton (pictured left with Gen. Abdel Fatah al-Sisi) is the first person outside of the country’s interim government to see Morsi since he was removed from office on July 3.
“Morsi is well,” said Ashton, according to AFP. “He has access to information in terms of TV, newspapers, so we were able to talk about the situation and we were able to talk about the need to move forward.”
Ashton visited Egypt on July 17 and unsuccessfully requested a meeting with Morsi. This time, the meeting was a condition of her visit.
“We want to help facilitate the bringing together of ideas,” she continued. “I don’t come here to say somebody should do this, somebody should do that, this is your country.”
Meanwhile, streets are filled with clashes between the military and Morsi’s Muslim Brotherhood, which has protested in Cairo since their leader’s removal.
Eighty-two Muslim Brotherhood demonstrators were shot, according to the Australian. The conflict between the two sides, which have rivaled for decades, seems to have finally come to a head.
Interim Vice President Mohamed ElBaradei has called for an end to violence in the streets, reports Ahramonline.
“Our priority now in Egypt is to stop violence,” said the reformist diplomat, who met with Ashton during her trip.
The two reportedly agreed that the government’s plan should include all political parties in Egypt.