Egypt crackdown sparks outrage

An Egyptian riot policeman points his gun towards protesters in a huge protest camp in eastern Cairo yesterday. Photo: AFP, Reuters

Egypt's bloody crackdown on supporters of ousted president Mohamed Morsi triggered widespread condemnation on Wednesday as the international community reacted with alarm to the deepening crisis.
The United States strongly condemned Egyptian forces' bloody crackdown on protesters and denounced the imposition of a state of emergency.

A Morsi-supporter targets a homemade gun at security forces. Photo: AFP, Reuters

White House spokesman Josh Earnest urged the Egyptian military to show restraint after a crackdown on supporters of deposed elected president Mohamed Morsi.

"The United States strongly condemns the use of violence against protesters in Egypt," Earnest told reporters.
"Violence will only make it more difficult to move Egypt forward on a path to lasting stability and democracy and runs directly counter to the pledges by the interim government to pursue reconciliation," he said.
Europe's leading powers along with Iran, Qatar and Turkey strongly denounced the use of force by the military-backed interim government to clear two protest camps in Cairo.
The action has resulted in 149 deaths, according to Egyptian health ministry.
"I am deeply concerned at the escalating violence and unrest in Egypt," British Foreign Secretary William Hague said in a statement. "I condemn the use of force in clearing protests and call on the security forces to act with restraint."
Qatar, a main backer of the pro-Morsi Muslim Brotherhood, issued a similar message.

Protesters push-off an armoured-car from a bridge in Cairo Photo: AFP, Reuters

Turkey -- which had developed strong ties with Morsi's government -- urged the international community to act immediately over what it said was an "unacceptable" response to the protests.
"The international community, particularly the UN Security Council and Arab League, must act immediately to stop this massacre," the prime minister's office said in a statement.

A protester with a AK47 riffle during the clashes. AFP, Reuters

Iran also termed the crackdown a "massacre".
France and Germany refrained from apportioning blame for the crisis, calling for calm from both sides.
The European Union also appealed for restraint, with EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton's spokesman saying: "Confrontation and violence are not the way forward."