http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/intl-communitys-support-for-coup-encouraged-intervention-turkeys-prime-ministry-.aspx?pageID=238&nID=52537&NewsCatID=338
Int’l community’s support for coup encouraged intervention: Turkey’s Prime Ministry
The Prime Ministry condemned 'in the strongest way' the administration in Egypt for resorting to violence against peaceful demonstrations, in a statement posted on its official website. Hürriyet photo
“We condemn in the strongest way the administration in Egypt for resorting to violence against peaceful demonstrations once again, despite all warnings,” the Prime Ministry said in the statement posted on its official website, as it called the attack on civilians “a heavy crime.”
“This bloody intervention by Egypt’s security forces against civilian and peaceful demonstrators has dealt a serious blow to hopes of fraternal Egypt’s return to democracy after an inclusive transition period. This intervention has clearly put forward the attitude of the current administration regarding the transition to democracy with the participation of all sides,” the Prime Ministry said.
“It is clearly seen that the fact that the international community has supported the military coup and remained silent on previous massacres, instead of protecting democracy and constitutional legitimacy in Egypt, has encouraged the current administration to conduct today’s intervention. The international community, especially the U.N. Security Council and Arab League, must act immediately to stop this massacre,” it said, while emphasizing that warnings and calls made by Turkey on the matter were aimed at ensuring the peace and serenity of the Egyptian people.
In the past few days, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan initiated separate telephone conversations with U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon as well as with his counterparts from the five permanent member countries of the U.N. Security Council, the statement said, noting that such efforts at maintaining a common stance among the international community would resume.
“We invite the temporary administration in Egypt to stop committing bloody acts against its own people, to conduct a convincing and transparent judicial investigation against those that have been committing massacres since July 30, 2013, to release all political prisoners starting with Mohamed Morsi and to initiate a real and inclusive political transition period,” the Prime Ministry said, pledging a continuation of all sorts of support from Turkey for the fraternal people of Egypt so that they can “escape from the current environment of chaos as soon as possible.”
http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Backchannels/2013/0814/A-massacre-in-Cairo-and-a-failure-of-US-diplomacy-in-Egypt
Since the military coup that ousted the Muslim Brotherhood's Mohamed Morsi from the Egyptian presidency on July 3, the Obama administration has bent over backwards not to call it a "coup."
Staff writer
Dan Murphy is a staff writer for the Monitor's international desk, focused on the Middle East. Murphy, who has reported from Iraq, Afghanistan, Egypt, and more than a dozen other countries, writes and edits Backchannels. The focus? War and international relations, leaning toward things Middle East.
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The reasoning behind this decision was that Egypt's military is the most powerful force in the country and that alienating and punishing them for their action would both undercut US influence and create the conditions for a broad military crackdown. And, besides, the massive protests against Mr. Morsi leading up to him being deposed and arrested showed he couldn't lead or stabilize the country any more himself.
So while principled talk about "democracy" and getting militaries out of politics is one thing, the world of realpolitik is something else. While emissaries from Obama danced around the "coup" question, the US government refused to announce a cut off in the Egyptian military's $1.3 billion annual subsidy, and continually urged restraint and reconciliation.
RECOMMENDED: How much do you know about Egypt? Take this quiz.
These decisions led to odd rhetorical constructions from the US government, as when State Department Spokeswoman Jen Psaki was pressed last week on whether the Obama administration thought Egypt's military had carried out a coup. "We have determined that we do not need to make a determination," she said.
Today, the military and Gen. Abdel Fatah Sisi, delivered the military's own determination: We're going ahead and doing it our way.
This morning Obama White House Spokesman Josh Earnest said that the US is opposed to the state of emergency declared by Egypt's military, which gives it sweeping powers, much as a state of emergency after the assassination of Anwar Sadat in 1981 formed the backbone of the military-backed Mubarak dictatorship that prevailed until 2011. Mr. Earnest said the US believes today's actions will make achieving "stability" more difficult. He also said that the US is not ready to determine whether Egypt has had a military coup. He said Egypt's interim rulers have promised a swift creation of a democracy and "it's a promise we're going to encourage them to keep."
Whether calling the coup by its proper name earlier would have changed anything is now an academic debate. It doesn't really matter now. A cycle of violence, with the military calling the shots, is all but assured for the foreseeable future. Elections, let alone free and fair ones, this year? Not likely to happen. Forming a national consensus on a revised constitution any time soon? Also hard to imagine.
The illusion of US influence over Egypt's military – which is pursuing what it sees as its own and its nation's interests – was brought home by the visit of Republican Sens. John McCain and Lindsey Graham to Cairo last week in which they met with the top brass and sought to act as mediators between the military and the Muslim Brotherhood.
Sen. McCain appeared to recognize the risk of severe destabilization if the military sought to eliminate the Muslim Brotherhood entirely from Egyptian politics. In February 2011, he was staunchly opposed to a political role for the Brothers. "I think they are a radical group that first of all supports sharia law; that in itself is anti-democratic – at least as far as women are concerned. They have been involved with other terrorist organizations and I believe that they should be specifically excluded from any transition government," he said then.
But on his visit to Cairo last week he expressed a different opinion. "We believe they should treat each other with respect. We also urge the release of political prisoners. We also urge strongly a national dialogue, a national dialogue that is inclusive for parties, including the Muslim Brotherhood," he said.
That dialogue will now come, if it comes at all, amid an atmosphere of fury and distrust. US influence with the military has proven negligible so far. The Muslim Brotherhood now views the US claims about supporting democracy as hypocritical, since it stood by as an elected president was ousted. And the Brotherhood's secular-leaning political opponents are angry at the failure of the US to provide full-throated backing to the military and American willingness to work with Morsi when he was Egypt's elected president.
It's a truism that you can't please everybody. But in the case of Egypt, the US has pleased precisely no one. And the Arab world's most populous country is heading into a period of turmoil likely to dwarf the troubles of the past few years.
RECOMMENDED: How much do you know about Egypt? Take this quiz.
http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2013-08-14/john-kerry-chimes-calls-egypt-situation-deplorable
( Is it a coup yet , Mr Secretary ? )
John Kerry Chimes In, Calls Egypt Situation "Deplorable"
It appears John Kerry has once more disembarked from the "Isabel" and was kind enough to share his latest incisive thoughts on the borderline civil war in non-coup'y, democratic Egypt. From the BBC.
US Secretary of State John Kerry is making a statement in Washington,calling the situation in Egypt "deplorable" and appealing for calm. "The United States strongly condemns today's bloodshed and violence across Egypt," he said."Violence is simply not a solution in Egypt or anywhere else," Mr Kerry said. "Continued political polarisation will only further tear the Egyptian economy apart." Mr Kerry said the US supported the people of Egypt and said the interim government and military needed to offer inclusive steps forward."He called on all parties to avoid violence in Egypt, saying: "There can only be political solution by bringing people together." Mr Kerry added he believed an inclusive way forward was still possible, but that Wednesday's events had greatly complicated the situation.
And now, back to sailing.
http://english.alarabiya.net/en/media/2013/08/14/Sky-News-cameraman-killed-during-Egypt-unrest.html
Last Update: Wednesday, 14 August 2013 KSA 18:49 - GMT 15:49
Sky News cameraman, Dubai reporter killed in Egypt unrest
Ben Flanagan - Al Arabiya
A cameraman for Britain’s Sky News and a Dubai-based reporter have been killed in Egypt, amid today's bloody crackdown on supporters of former president Mohammad Mursi.
Other journalists have faced beatings and detention by security services during the clashes, according to New York-based media rights group Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ).
Sky News cameraman Mick Deane, 61, was covering today's violence when he was killed. Deane had worked for Sky for 15 years, based in Washington and then Jerusalem, the broadcaster said.
It was not immediately clear who was responsible for his death. Sky News said other members of its team in Cairo were not injured.
The news drew messages of condolence and tributes to Deane.
“I am saddened to hear of the death of cameraman Mick Deane, covering Egyptian violence. My thoughts are with his family and @SkyNews team,” David Cameron, the UK prime minister, wrote on Twitter.
Sky News said in a statement that Deane, who was married with two sons, was a "hugely experienced" journalist.
“Mick was part of a Sky News team reporting on the disturbances in the city with Middle East Correspondent Sam Kiley when he was shot and wounded. Despite receiving medical treatment for his injuries, he died shortly afterwards,” the statement said.
John Ryley, Head of Sky News, paid tribute to Deane.
“Everyone at Sky News is shocked and saddened by Mick’s death. He was a talented and experienced journalist who had worked with Sky News for many years. The loss of a much-loved colleague will be deeply felt across Sky News,” Ryley said in a statement.
It was also reported today that the Dubai-based reporter Habiba Ahmed Abd Elaziz, 26, was shot and killed during the unrest in Cairo.
Elaziz, a staff reporter for XPRESS, a sister publication of Dubai's Gulf News, was shot dead in Cairo on Wednesday morning, according to the Gulf News website.
Reporter killed in Egypt clashes
Habiba Ahmed Abd Elaziz, a staff reporter for XPRESS, a sister publication of Dubai's Gulf News, was shot dead in Cairo on Wednesday morning.
Family members said she was shot at the Rabaa Al Adawiya Square, according to the report.
Abdul Hamid Ahmad, editor-in-chief of Gulf News, said that Elaziz's family members had confirmed her death. “All [members of] the newsroom - XPRESS and Gulf News - are in shock,” Ahmad told Al Arabiya. “They are upset and very sad.”
Ahmad said that Elaziz was not on an official assignment at the time, and was taking annual leave during her visit to Egypt.
Sherif Mansour, Middle East and North Africa coordinator for the CPJ, said that other journalists had faced attacks during today’s clashes in Egypt.
“There are multiple other cases we are looking into, including... beatings and detentions of journalists,” Mansour told Al Arabiya.
Mansour said the CPJ had confirmed that Sky News cameraman Mick Deane “was shot while doing his work, and covering the clashes”. The CPJ is still investigating the reported death of Elaziz, he said.
The CPJ today published a report on the state of media freedom in Egypt, which claimed “repressive tactics” continue to be used in the country after the fall of former presidents Hosni Mubarak and Mohammad Mursi.
Mansour condemned today’s violence against journalists.
“It’s the responsibility of the government to guarantee the safety of all civilians, even in a conflict situation,” he said. “We were hoping that the interim government would respect the rights and freedoms of journalists.”
http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2013-08-14/video-clip-egypt-likely-not-produced
This Video Clip From Egypt Is Likely Not Produced
Unlike the previously 'staged' Muslim Brotherhood demonstrations, we suspect this 'real' clip of the escalating and deadly situation in Egypt will open a few eyes to how close the nation is to civil war.
Things escalate around the 40 second mark...
http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2013-08-14/things-egypt-are-deteriorating-rapidly-and-now-vice-president-resigns
Live Webcast: Things In Egypt Are Deteriorating Rapidly And Now The Vice President Resigns
It may be time for John Kerry to emerge from his boat and whisper a soothing word or two:
- EGYPT VICE PRESIDENT ELBARADEI ANNOUNCES RESIGNATION: AFP
- MURSI BACKERS SHOOT, KILL 4 POLICEMEN IN CAIRO STATION: REUTERS
More on the resignation of the long-suffering ElBardei:
Egypt's interim vice president, Mohamed ElBaradei, resigned on Wednesday after the security forces violently broke up protest camps set up by supporters of the deposed president, Mohamed Mursi.In a resignation letter to Interim President Adly Mansour, ElBaradei said that "the beneficiaries of what happened today are those who call for violence, terrorism and the most extreme groups"."As you know, I saw that there were peaceful ways to end this clash in society, there were proposed and acceptable solutions for beginnings that would take us to national consensus," he wrote."It has become difficult for me to continue bearing responsibility for decisions that I do not agree with and whose consequences I fear. I cannot bear the responsibility for one drop of blood."
But fear not: Israel has the Egypt's government's back: recall Israelis, Egyptians Cooperate on Terror. Then again, maybe escalating the region was the point all along.
A picture on the ground from Reuters:
Riot police and army personnel take their positions during clashes with members of the Muslim Brotherhood and supporters of ousted Egyptian President Mohamed Mursi around the area of Rabaa Adawiya square, where they are camping, in Cairo, August 14, 2013
and things are 'falling' down quickly...
http://rt.com/news/egypt-police-disperse-protesters-471/
Muslim Brotherhood spokesman Gehad El-Haddad claimed that as many as 2,000 people had been killed and 10,000 injured in the police operation.
REUTERS
A riot policemen prepares to fire tear gas into a pro-Morsi crowd.
REUTERS
Riot police trucks move in on a pro-Morsi encampment.
.jpg)
REUTERS
Muslim brotherhood members throw stones at riot police.
REUTERS
Muslim Brotherhood members flee from riot police trucks.
REUTERS
Riot police pick up a severely injured protester.
REUTERS
Riot police watch the Morsi encampment burn.
REUTERS
With the encampment cleared, police await orders as smoke billows in the air.
REUTERS
A policeman walks through the burned out Brotherhood encampment.
http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2013-08-14/dozens-dead-egypt-launches-lethal-crackdown-pro-mursi-protesters
Dozens Dead As Egypt Launches Lethal Crackdown On Pro-Mursi Protesters
As was reported over the weekend, it was only a matter of time before the Egyptian police began its violent crackdown on protesting pro-Mursi supporters across Egypt. But after the specified ETA came and went on Monday morning, most thought that this was yet another false alarm. It appears it was only delayed until Wednesday. Overnight, depending on the source one reads, Egyptian security forces killed anywhere between 43 and hundreds people when they cleared a camp of Cairo protesters who were demanding the reinstatement of the deposed Mohamed Mursi. There was no official confirmation of the deaths at Rabaa al-Adawiya, in northeast Cairo, where thousands of Mursi supporters awoke to police helicopters circling over the site. A second camp near Cairo University was swiftly cleared in the early morning. So is this the final step that will ultimately catalyze what has been an almost preordained civil war, with or without but most likely with America's blessing (after all the deficit spending surge so needed for the unpater won't happen on its own)? The answer should be appearing promptly.
More from Al Arabiya:
At least 43 people were reportedly killed on Wednesday as Egyptian police moved in on protesters camping out in support of deposed President Mohammed Mursi.Two members of Egypt security forces killed by gunfire while breaking up the protests, the state news agency reported.The state news agency said security forces had started implementing a phased plan to disperse the protesters, which is almost certain to deepen political turmoil in Egypt. The operation began shortly after dawn when security forces surrounded the sprawling Rabaa al-Adawiya camp in east Cairo and a similar one at Nahda square, in the centre of the capital.Al Arabiya’s correspondent in Cairo said clashes between security forces and protesters in Rabaa al-Adawiya had erupted early on in the swoop.An AFP correspondent counted 43 bodies at a makeshift morgue at Rabaa al-Adawiya, adding that many appeared to have died from gunshot wounds. There were no women or children among the dead, the correspondent said.Security forces fired tear gas into the sit-in in, and live images of Rabaa al-Adawiya showed smoke billowing from the square and military helicopters flying overhead.Canisters of tear gas rained down on tents set up by the protesters at one end of the Rabaa al-Adawiya camp as police vehicles, one blaring a siren, advanced on the protesters."It is the beginning of the operation to disperse the protesters," a security official told AFP.The Al Arabiya correspondent reported that security forces were opening up Nasr Street, a road which leads out of Rabaa al-Adawiya, for those wanting to leave camp.The correspondent added that some protesters had begun burning tires to block the security forces efforts.An Associated Press television video journalist at the scene of the larger of the two camps said he could hear the screams of women as a cloud of white smoke hung over the site in the eastern Cairo suburb of Nasr City.He said an army bulldozer was removing mounds of sand bags and brick walls built by the protesters as a defense line in the Nasr City camp. Army troops, however, were not taking part in the operation.Meanwhile, Egypt stopped all train services in and out of Cairo to prevent Mursi supporters from reassembling after being dispersed from protest camps in the capital."Train services in and out of Cairo in all directions have been stopped until further notice... for security reasons and to prevent people from mobilizing," the railway authority said.
Yet what will likely incite the international community more than the deaths of hundreds of "locals" is that at least one foreign journalist has been killed.
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