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Official Urges Restraint by Military in Egypt Restraint Urged for Egypt’s Security Services
(about 1 hour later)
CAIRO — Egypt’s interim vice president said on Saturday that force could be used only as a last resort to disperse demonstrations held by supporters of Mohamed Morsi, who was deposed by the military a month ago.CAIRO — Egypt’s interim vice president said on Saturday that force could be used only as a last resort to disperse demonstrations held by supporters of Mohamed Morsi, who was deposed by the military a month ago.
The vice president, Mohamed ElBaradei, made his statement as international mediators met here to try to head off further destabilizing violence.The vice president, Mohamed ElBaradei, made his statement as international mediators met here to try to head off further destabilizing violence.
The military-backed interim government last week ordered the end of two sit-ins by tens of thousands of Mr. Morsi’s supporters, raising the threat of a bloody incursion by Egypt’s poorly trained security services into two Cairo squares.The military-backed interim government last week ordered the end of two sit-ins by tens of thousands of Mr. Morsi’s supporters, raising the threat of a bloody incursion by Egypt’s poorly trained security services into two Cairo squares.
During a television interview on Saturday, Mr. ElBaradei said he would “use all available means” to avoid an incursion. If force is necessary, he said, “it has to be with the least number of casualties.”During a television interview on Saturday, Mr. ElBaradei said he would “use all available means” to avoid an incursion. If force is necessary, he said, “it has to be with the least number of casualties.”
In Egypt’s confused political state, where real power seems to lie with the military and its commander, Gen. Abdul Fattah el-Sisi, it was unclear whether Mr. ElBaradei’s comments represented policy or just his hope.In Egypt’s confused political state, where real power seems to lie with the military and its commander, Gen. Abdul Fattah el-Sisi, it was unclear whether Mr. ElBaradei’s comments represented policy or just his hope.
Mr. ElBaradei and a handful of other ministers are said to be lonely voices in a government that now routinely uses the language of terrorism when referring to Mr. Morsi’s Islamist supporters and their protests. He himself noted, “The decision to disperse the sit-ins is a political, security and military decision.”Mr. ElBaradei and a handful of other ministers are said to be lonely voices in a government that now routinely uses the language of terrorism when referring to Mr. Morsi’s Islamist supporters and their protests. He himself noted, “The decision to disperse the sit-ins is a political, security and military decision.”
Bellicose language has come from security agencies, but also from the staid quarters of the government, including the diplomats in the Foreign Ministry. On Saturday, the ministry distributed talking points to foreign journalists that laid out a case for the sit-ins to be considered dangerous, saying that “well-documented evidence” show that the larger of the two demonstrations “is not a peaceful protest.”Bellicose language has come from security agencies, but also from the staid quarters of the government, including the diplomats in the Foreign Ministry. On Saturday, the ministry distributed talking points to foreign journalists that laid out a case for the sit-ins to be considered dangerous, saying that “well-documented evidence” show that the larger of the two demonstrations “is not a peaceful protest.”
The talking points were part of an intensifying effort by the government to win support abroad, matching a similarly vigorous effort by Mr. Morsi’s Islamist supporters in the Muslim Brotherhood to win backing for their bid to reverse what they call a coup.The talking points were part of an intensifying effort by the government to win support abroad, matching a similarly vigorous effort by Mr. Morsi’s Islamist supporters in the Muslim Brotherhood to win backing for their bid to reverse what they call a coup.
In an interview with The Washington Post published online on Saturday, General Sisi said the police, and not the military, would “clean” the squares. He added that “30 million” Egyptians had taken to the streets to support him after he delivered a controversial speech on July 24 asking for a “mandate” to fight terrorism.In an interview with The Washington Post published online on Saturday, General Sisi said the police, and not the military, would “clean” the squares. He added that “30 million” Egyptians had taken to the streets to support him after he delivered a controversial speech on July 24 asking for a “mandate” to fight terrorism.
“These people are waiting for me to do something,” he said, according to excerpts from what the newspaper said was a two-hour interview.“These people are waiting for me to do something,” he said, according to excerpts from what the newspaper said was a two-hour interview.
General Sisi also harshly criticized the United States as having abandoned Egypt, even as he asked for the Obama administration to use its “leverage and influence” with the Brotherhood to resolve the political conflict.General Sisi also harshly criticized the United States as having abandoned Egypt, even as he asked for the Obama administration to use its “leverage and influence” with the Brotherhood to resolve the political conflict.
Brotherhood leaders said they met on Saturday with William J. Burns, the American deputy secretary of state.  Mr. Burns met with officials in the interim government, on his second visit to Egypt since Mr. Morsi’s ouster. Mediators have tried to persuade the military and the Brotherhood to make good-will gestures that would pave the way for negotiations to end the standoff.Brotherhood leaders said they met on Saturday with William J. Burns, the American deputy secretary of state.  Mr. Burns met with officials in the interim government, on his second visit to Egypt since Mr. Morsi’s ouster. Mediators have tried to persuade the military and the Brotherhood to make good-will gestures that would pave the way for negotiations to end the standoff.
Amr Darrag, a leader in the Brotherhood’s political wing, the Freedom and Justice Party, said Mr. Burns and Bernadino Leon, the European Union envoy, “expressed their deep concerns about the potential for violence.”Amr Darrag, a leader in the Brotherhood’s political wing, the Freedom and Justice Party, said Mr. Burns and Bernadino Leon, the European Union envoy, “expressed their deep concerns about the potential for violence.”
Egyptian officials have demanded that Brotherhood leaders stop all violence and incitement. Mr. Darrag said he was still waiting for gestures from the military. “We hope our international friends can convince the other side,” he said.Egyptian officials have demanded that Brotherhood leaders stop all violence and incitement. Mr. Darrag said he was still waiting for gestures from the military. “We hope our international friends can convince the other side,” he said.