Saudi King Backs Egypt against 'Terrorism', Jordan Backs Efforts to 'Impose Law'
Saudi King Abdullah pledged his country's support to Egypt's fight on "terrorism," saying it was the military-backed government's "legitimate right," in a speech aired on official al-Ekhbariya television Friday.
Saudi Arabia "has stood and stands with its Egyptian brothers against terrorism, deviance and sedition, and against those who try to interfere in Egypt's internal affairs... and its legitimate rights in deterring those tampering with and misleading" its people, he said.
As he made his remarks, with fresh violence erupting across Egypt, the Cairo regime said it was confronting a "malicious terror plot" by the Muslim Brotherhood.
Egypt has faced international condemnation since nearly 600 people were killed in clashes on Wednesday when police broke up protest camps of supporters of ousted president Mohammed Morsi, in Egypt's bloodiest day in decades.
King Abdullah urged the Arab and Muslim world to stand "in the face of whoever tries to destabilize" Egypt.
"Those who have interfered in its affairs must know that they are causing sedition and backing terrorism, which they claim to fight," said the head of oil-rich conservative kingdom that is a major regional player.
Saudi Arabia welcomed Morsi's ouster, and King Abdullah was the first foreign head of state to congratulate Egypt's interim president Adly Mansour hours after his appointment.
The kingdom's regional arch foe Iran had condemned what it called Wednesday's "massacre" in Egypt.
Later on Friday, Jordan said it backs Egypt's efforts to "impose rule of law" and "combat terrorism," in its first official reaction to the deadly crackdown.
"Jordan stands by Egypt in its serious efforts to impose the rule of law and restore security and stability," Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh said in a statement carried by state-run Petra news agency.
"Egypt is seeking to combat terrorism and attempts (by others) to meddle in its affairs," he said.
Judeh hailed remarks by Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah, adding that "all Arabs and Muslims should stand firm against attempts to tamper with Egypt's security and stability."
Earlier in the day around 1,000 supporters of the Muslim Brotherhood in Jordan demonstrated in Amman to protest against the crackdown.
"Down with military rule," the demonstrators chanted, in reference to the Egyptian armed forces who deposed Morsi on July 3 after millions clamored for his resignation.
The protesters, waving Jordanian and Egyptian flags, also demanded the expulsion of the Egyptian ambassador and called on the government to recall the envoy from Cairo.
Hamzeh Mansour, head of the Islamic Action Front, the political arm of the Brotherhood in Jordan, also sent a letter to Prime Minister Abdullah Nsur demanding the government condemn the crackdown in Egypt.
Arab states of the Gulf -- the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain -- have separately voiced support for the deadly assault on Morsi's supporters, saying it was the state's duty to restore order.
They, along with Kuwait, also welcomed the July 3 army coup that ousted Morsi, Egypt's first elected leader since an popular uprising in 2011 toppled long-time president Hosni Mubarak -- a close Saudi ally.
Following Morsi's ouster, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Kuwait pledged a combined total of $12 million in aid to support Egypt's faltering economy.
Qatar, a key supporter of Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood, has so far been the only Arab state of the Gulf to strongly condemn Wednesday's crackdown.
Source: Agence France Presse
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