U.S. signals it is moving on from ousted Egyptian leader
American diplomat meets interim leaders, calls for ‘inclusive democratic process’
CAIRO The most senior U.S. official to visit Egypt since its elected president was ousted said Monday that Washington is committed to helping the Arab country succeed in its “second chance” at democracy, adding this can only happen with the participation of the Muslim Brotherhood.
U.S. Deputy Secretary of State William Burns’ meetings with Egypt’s interim leaders came as thousands of supporters of deposed president Mohammed Morsi held another mass rally to demand his return to office. The protest turned violent as police fired tear gas at pro-Morsi protesters who burned tires, threw rocks and blocked traffic flow on a main roadway running through the heart of the capital.
The remarks by Burns, the No. 2 American diplomat, signalled that Washington, while calling for an inclusive transition, is moving on from Morsi and his Brotherhood group.
Burns insisted that the United States is not taking sides in deeply polarized Egypt, saying it is not Washington’s policy, “as outsiders, to support particular political personalities and particular parties.”
“What we’re going to continue to try to do is to support an open inclusive, tolerant democratic process,” Burns said. “We hope it will be a chance to learn some of the lessons and correct some of the mistakes of the last two years.”
Burns’ comments were being carefully watched in Cairo, where a cross-spectrum of groups have accused Washington of meddling in the country’s affairs.
Morsi’s opponents have long accused the United States of backing the Islamist president during his year in office, particularly after he helped broker a cease-fire between neighbouring Israel and the Hamas rulers in the Palestinian Gaza Strip. Tamarod, the main activist group that organized the protests against Morsi, said it refused an invitation to meet with Burns because of the perceived U.S. stance.
On the other side, Morsi’s supporters, including the Brotherhood, now accuse Washington of backing the July 3 coup against Egypt’s first freely elected president. A Brotherhood spokesman said he was not aware of any invitation for the group to meet with the U.S. diplomat during his visit.
Burns held talks Monday with Egypt’s interim President Adly Mansour, prime minister-Hazem elBeblawi and the head of the military, Gen. Abdel-Fattah elSissi, concerning the transition plan put forward by the new leadership.