Rival Rallies in Egypt, US- EU Call to End Dangerous Stalemate

Local Editor

Supporters of ousted President Mohamed Mursi marched to demand his restoration on Thursday after the military-led authorities that removed him held off from carrying out a threat to clear protest sit-ins by force.

In details, thousands of demonstrators converged on a Brotherhood protest camp in northeastern Cairo in a festive atmosphere to attend prayers and a rally on the first day of the Eid al-Fitr holiday after the end of the fasting month of Ramadan.

In response, secular and leftist groups also called for mass demonstrations and public prayers across Egypt to support what they see as a popular revolution that led to the overthrow of Mursi by the military on July 3 after just a year in office.
Meanwhile, the US and the European Union have called on all sides in Egypt's political crisis to end "a dangerous stalemate" after the interim government said foreign mediation had failed.

In a joint statement, they said the Egyptian government bore a special responsibility to begin this process.

Meanwhile, the army-backed government said it will break up sit-ins in Cairo being held by supporters of ousted President Mohammad Mursi.
Scores have died in unrest since Mursi was ousted on 3 July.
Since then, diplomats from the US, EU, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates have all tried to bring Egypt's political process back on track.

But on Wednesday the office of interim President Adly Mansour declared in a statement that the "phase of diplomatic efforts has ended today".
"These efforts have not achieved the hoped-for results," said the statement.
The presidency said it held the Muslim Brotherhood - which backs Mursi - "completely responsible for the failure of these efforts".
The government statement came hours after US Deputy Secretary of State William Burns left Egypt following several days of mediation talks. He was assisted by EU envoy Bernardino Leon.

Shortly afterwards, US Secretary of State John Kerry and EU High Representative Catherine Ashton issued a joint statement.
"While further violent confrontations have thus far been avoided, we remain concerned and troubled that government and opposition leaders have not yet found a way to break a dangerous stalemate and agree to implement tangible confidence building measures," they said.
"The Egyptian government bears a special responsibility to begin this process to ensure the safety and welfare of its citizens," the statement continued.

It further mentioned that "this remains a very fragile situation, which holds not only the risk of more bloodshed and polarization in Egypt, but also impedes the economic recovery which is so essential for Egypt's successful transition."
"Now is not the time to assess blame, but to take steps that can help initiate a dialogue and move the transition forward."

In parallel, Cairo is tense after interim Prime Minister Hazem Beblawi said the government's determination to break up the two protest camps was "final and irreversible".
Interim authorities have repeatedly asked Brotherhood supporters to end the sit-ins in Cairo. Diplomats have voiced concerns about the possible use of force to break up the protests.
Violence has also been reported between Mursi's supporters and residents in the city of Alexandria.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team