OBAMA CANCELS MILITARY DRILL

US President Barack Obama spoke out on Thursday against the violence in Egypt, condemning a military crackdown there and saying the United States had canceled joint military exercises scheduled for next month.

“The United States them from obtaining permits to bury their dead.

El-Khateeb said that 202 of the 525 total were killed in the Nasr City protest camp, but it was not immediately clear whether the bodies at the mosque were included in that figure. Another Health Ministry spokesman, Mohammed Fathallah, said he had no knowledge of the bodies at the el-Iman mosque.

Victims’ names were scribbled on white sheets covering their bodies, some of which were charred. Posters of Morsi were scattered on the floor.

Probe needed

Egypt’s military rulers faced condemnation over the bloody crackdown, with France warning of the threat of “civil war” and Turkey demanding UN action.

The United States led the global outcry against the “deplorable” violence, while Paris, London, Berlin and Rome summoned Egypt’s strongly condemns the steps that have been taken by Egypt’s interim government and security forces,” Obama said from his vacation home on the Massachusetts island of Martha’s Vineyard.

“We deplore violence against civilians. We support universal rights ambassadors to voice their strong concern.

Turkey’s Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, a supporter of Morsi, called for an urgent UN Security Council meeting over Egypt’s “massacre” of the demonstrators.

French President Francois Hollande said “everything must be done to avoid a civil war” in Egypt, while his government conveyed France’s “great concern over the tragic events” to Egypt’s envoy.

Britain also condemned the violence, expressed its “deep concern” to Egypt’s envoy and urged “the greatest restraint”.

UN rights chief Navi Pillay also demanded a wide-ranging probe.

“The number of people killed or injured, even according to the government’s figures, point to an excessive, even extreme, use of force against demonstrators,” Pillay said. “There must be an independent, impartial, effective and credible investigation of the conduct of the essential to human dignity, including the right to peaceful protest.”

Obama urged Egypt’s army-installed authorities to lift a state of emergency and allow peaceful protests but stopped short of suspending $1.3 billion in annual military aid. security forces. Anyone found guilty of wrongdoing should be held to account.”

China urges restraint

China on Thursday urged all parties in Egypt to exercise restraint and resolve their differences through dialogue.

“China is paying close attention to the situation in Egypt, and is deeply concerned about its development,” said Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei while commenting on the Egyptian police’s decision to clear protest camps in Cairo, where supporters of ousted Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi had gathered.

Hong said China hoped all parties would put the interests of the country and people first and exercise restraint to avoid more casualties. He called on all sides to resolve their differences through dialogue and to restore order and social stability.