Egypts interim President Adly Mansour has slammed US Senator John McCain for describing the ouster of former president Mohamed Morsi as a coup.The leading US Senator made the remarks at the end of a visit to the Egyptian capital, Cairo, On Tuesday. He was accompanied by Senator Lindsey Graham.
McCain said, The circumstances of [Morsi's] removal was a coup. This was a transition of power not by the ballot box."
He also warned that the situation in Egypt was getting dangerous, calling on the interim governments officials to release political prisoners if they want to resolve the political crisis sparked by Morsis ouster on July 3.
Egypts state television cited Mansour as describing the US Senators comments an unacceptable interference in internal policies.
Egyptian Presidential aid Ahmed El-Muslimani also reportedly rejected McCains remarks, saying, John McCain is distorting facts. His clumsy statements are unacceptable in form and substance.
McCains remarks contradict the US administrations stance on Egypts recent political stalemate. The White House has reportedly said that the two senators do not represent the US government and only represent themselves.
The US administration has so far avoided using the word coup for the ouster of Morsi. Secretary of State John Kerry said last week that the Egyptian army has restored democracy in the country by toppling Morsi.
Egypt has been the scene of increasing deadly violence since the overthrow of Morsi by the army in early June. Army chief, General Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi, announced on July 3 that Morsi was no longer in office and declared the chief justice of Egypts Supreme Constitutional Court, Mansour, as the interim president on July 4.
By Press TV
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