UN Under-Secretary-General for
Political Affairs Jeffrey Feltman plans to visit
Egypt next week to hear views
on the crisis and the way forward, the United Nations said on Friday.
"The
schedule is still being worked out. However, it goes without saying that Mr.
Feltman intends to meet with a range of interlocutors, inside and outside the
government, including the Muslim Brotherhood," the United Nations said.
Saudi Arabia:
Earlier, the Saudi King Abdullah called on Arabs to stand together against
"attempts to destabilize" Egypt, in a strong message of support for
the country's military leadership read out on Saudi television.
"The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, its people and government stood and stands
by today with its brothers in Egypt against terrorism," he said.
Germany-France:
In turn, the German Chancellor Angela Merkel said after speaking with French
President Francois Hollande by phone that Germany would review its ties with
Egypt, and both she and Hollande felt the European Union should do the same.
In this regard, the European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton said
she had asked EU governments to discuss "appropriate measures" that
the bloc could take in reaction to the violence in Egypt.
Calling the death toll in Egypt shocking, she said responsibility for the
tragedy "weighs heavily on the interim government, as well as on the wider
political leadership in the country."
Meanwhile, the German Foreign Ministry urged
its citizens to refrain from traveling to Egypt, extending a previous warning
to include Red Sea beach resorts around Hughada and Sharm El-Sheik.
Similarly, the German tour operator TUI Germany said it was cancelling all
holidays to Egypt until September 15 after the German foreign ministry advised
against travel to Red Sea resorts
Switzerland:
In the same context, the Swiss Foreign
Ministry warned against traveling to Egypt, saying there was a risk that the
violent clashes between government forces and protesters "will spread
throughout the country.
Turkey:
Earlier, Turkish officials kept up their criticism of the military government's
crackdown, with President Abdulla Gul saying that "all that happened in
Egypt is a shame for Islam and the Arab World." Turkey and Egypt recalled
their ambassadors for consultations late Thursday as their relationship
worsened.
Nordic countries:
The Nordic countries changed their advice to citizens, warning against all
non-essential travel to Egypt. Several tour operators canceled trips to Egypt
and began returning tourists early from holiday resorts.
Poland:
The Polish Ministry said that the Foreign Ministry is advising citizens in Egypt
to stay in resorts, avoid big cities, bazaars, shopping malls, and museums.
Taliban:
Meanwhile, the Taliban condemned the
violence and called for the restoration of the deposed president, Mohammed
Morsi. In a statement signed by The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, the name
under which the Taliban ruled Afghanistan until ousted by a US invasion, they
also called on international organizations to take practical steps to stop the
violence and "not be satisfied with only condemning this barbaric
incident."
Indonesia:
In Indonesia, thousands of protesters
took to the streets after Friday prayers, in several cities across the country,
the world's most populous Muslim country, calling for the bloodshed in Egypt to
end. President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said in his annual state-of-the-nation
address Friday that the excessive force used to disperse demonstrations in
Egypt was against democratic values and humanity. He called on all parties to
"build compromise and seek a win-win solution."
Tunisia:
About 1,500 people flooded the main
avenue in central Tunis, many of them pouring out of the capital's most
important mosque. They gathered in a large square in front of the municipal
theater, shouting support for the Egyptian people, especially supporters of
Morsi, and condemning the Egyptian military and the U.S. The hour-long protest
was peaceful.
REUTERS/AP