Egypt troops clear Morsi protests - EU deplores loss of life and considers speedy return to civilian rule essential

Egyptian security forces have moved in to clear two pro-Morsi protest camps in Cairo, leaving several dead. Figures about the people killed fluctuate betweem 8 - 600 depending to whom you are listening.

Note EU-Digest: It was also announced yesterday that Egypt’s new military-appointed government on Tuesday named a roster of generals as provincial governors, raising fears of a return to the authoritarianism of former President Hosni Mubarak. 

The New York Times reported that of of the 25 provincial governors named, 19 are generals: 17 from the military and 2 from the police. One police general has become well known for his openly insubordinate refusal to protect supporters of Egypt’s first democratically elected president, Mohamed Morsi, an Islamist whose candidacy was advanced by the Muslim Brotherhood. 

None of Mr. Morsi’s Islamist appointees — 11 of Egypt’s 27 governors — were kept on, but six of nine generals whom he had appointed to governorships retained those posts, although one was moved to Alexandria from the Red Sea region. 

By naming so many generals, the new government installed by Gen. Abdul-Fattah el-Sisi also returned to one of Mr. Mubarak’s trademark tactics, using the governorships to cultivate the loyalty of top officers while extending the grip of his police state. 

Even some founders of the petition drive that paved the way for Mr. Morsi’s ouster began for the first time to question the leaders they had helped bring to power. “Our reasons for revolting against the two regimes were the same, so it’s not right for governors to be appointed this way,” Hassan Shaheen, an organizer of the petition drive, known as Tamarrod, said, according to the state newspaper Al Ahram. 

The European Union said on Saturday it deplored the loss of life in Egypt and was following developments there with concern after deadly clashes in Cairo between protesters against the interim military-backed government and police.

EU foreign affairs head Catherine Ashton said the authorities should ensure a speedy transition to civilian rule and repeated demands that political detainees, including President Mohammed Morsi who was ousted by the army on July 3, should be released.

A spokesman said Ashton "deeply deplores the loss of life" after reports that dozens or more of Morsi's supporters were shot dead in the Egyptian capital early today as violence erupted after a night of massive rallies for and against the ousted Islamist president. 

So far no reactions from the US Government.  e

 

To view live report more here: Egypt troops clear Morsi protests: live - Telegraph