Damascus: Morsi's Arab League statements 'meddling' in Syrian affairs

Ahram Online , Thursday 6 Sep 2012

Syria's foreign ministry calls Egyptian president's Wednesday statements at Arab League 'blatant meddling' in Syrian affairs and 'breach of Syrian people's rights'

Mohammed Morsi
In this picture released by the Egyptian Presidency, President Mohammed Morsi, center, speaks during a meeting at the Arab League in Cairo (Photo: AP)

The Syrian Foreign Ministry has described statements made by Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi at Wednesday's annual Arab League meeting in Cairo as "blatant meddling in Syria's domestic affairs" and a "breach of the rights of the Syrian people," who, the ministry stressed, would "not accept foreign intervention."

"Morsi reflects the views of the Muslim Brotherhood group, which has nothing to do with the historical relationship between the two countries," the ministry asserted in a Thursday statement.

In his speech at Arab League headquarters on Wednesday, Morsi declared it was "time for the Syrian regime to step down," stressing that it was the Arab world's responsibility to find a viable resolution to the ongoing crisis.

"We should help the Syrians avoid civil war and avert foreign military intervention," Morsi said. "I say to the Syrian regime: there is still a chance to end the bloodshed. Now is the time for change."

Morsi went on to say there was "no time to waste" in discussing proposed reforms, stressing that the Assad regime "has to leave to stop the carnage".

He also called on Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad to "take lessons from recent history," in reference to the fall of longstanding political regimes in Tunisia, Egypt, Libya and Yemen in the wake of the Arab Spring.

"Do something and we'll support you," Morsi told Arab diplomats before leaving the meeting.

The Syrian Foreign Ministry, for its part, described Morsi's speech at the Arab League as "propaganda that aims to promote violence in Syria, which differs little from other governments that support the militant terrorist groups [in Syria] with money, weapons and training."

The ministry statement added: "History will not forgive them for what they did to the Syrian people; we're sure the Egyptians are capable of restoring their leading role in the region."

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