In light of recent violence between the Egyptian military and the Islamist and Muslim Brotherhood demonstrators that have crowded Cairo’s streets, interim Vice President Mohamed ElBaradei is pushing for restraint to be used when dispersing protests.
Violence will only be used as a last resort against the demonstrators, who are protesting the removal of President Mohamed Morsi on July 3, the New York Times reports.
The interim administration ordered a crackdown on the Muslim Brotherhood last week, sparking fears of mass bloodshed in clashes between the demonstrators and military.
ElBaradei said the military-backed government would “use all available means” to avoid violence, and if force was necessary, “it has to be with the least number of casualties.”
Meanwhile, General Abdel Fatah al-Sisi, who ousted Morsi, has criticized the U.S. government for its refusal to endorse the military revolution and interim Egyptian government, according to Voice of America.
Sisi said Obama’s administration “turned (its) back on the Egyptians, and they won’t forget that.”
Though the U.S. has not explicitly endorsed Egypt’s military-backed interim leaders, it has refused to label the military’s ousting of Morsi a “coup,” as that would cut $1.3 billion of annual aid to Egypt. A large portion of this money goes to the country’s military.
On Saturday, U.S. Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel spoke on the phone with Sisi and said there was “concern about the recent violence in Egypt” and encouraged him “to support an inclusive political process,” according to the Washington Post.
Images: WikiCommons, Twitter
