France demands release of Morsi

Jul 30, 2013 |

Paris

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France’s foreign minister demanded Tuesday that Egypt’s ousted president Mohamed Morsi be freed, describing the political crisis as “very critical” after bloody unrest in Cairo.

“We condemn the violence... We call for dialogue and for the release of president Morsi,” Laurent Fabius told reporters.

“The situation is very critical. We call for the rejection of violence and for the release of political prisoners including former President Morsi.”

Egypt has been locked in an increasingly bloody political crisis since Morsi was ousted in a July 3 coup, amid violent clashes between his supporters and opponents.

Fabius’ comments come as EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton is on a trip to Egypt, where she held a two-hour meeting with Morsi and pressed for an end to the bloodshed.

Ashton has urged a political transition that would include the Muslim Brotherhood organisation from which Morsi hails.

The French minister was due to hold talks by phone with Ashton on Tuesday.

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