The original content of Democracy Now! Headlines appears under the Creative
Commons BY-NC-ND 3.0 License (United States). For more, including their other
shows and media, visit www.democracynow.org.
June 17, 2013

Egypt Cuts Diplomatic Ties to Syria 
------------------------------------


 
The Egyptian government has announced it's severing all ties to the
Syrian government and backing the rebel fight seeking to oust Bashar
al-Assad. On Saturday, Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi told supporters
he's closing the Syrian embassy in Cairo and recalling his government's
envoy from Damascus.

Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi: "The Syrian people are facing a
campaign of extermination and planned ethnic cleansing, fed by regional
and international states who do not care for the Syrian citizen. The
people of Egypt support the struggle of the Syrian people, materially
and morally. And Egypt — its nation, leadership and army —
will not abandon the Syrian people until it achieves its rights and
dignity."

In his comments, Morsi also called on the international community to
enforce a no-fly zone over Syria and urged all Hezbollah members
fighting alongside Assad's forces to return to Lebanon. In response, the
Syrian government said Morsi has joined the "conspiracy and incitement
led by the United States and Israel against Syria." The U.S. has denied
pressuring Egypt on Syria.

 

.