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Egypt's Morsi Belatedly Denounces Embassy Attacks

Mohamed Morsi calls Cairo attacks 'unlawful acts'

By Evann Gastaldo,  Newser Staff

Posted Sep 13, 2012 7:45 AM CDT

(Newser) – Violence in Egypt continued today as protesters upset about an anti-Islam film clashed with police around the US Embassy in Cairo, Reuters reports. At least 13 people have been injured; CNN reports that six of those are police officers. At the European Union today for his first Western visit, President Mohamed Morsi denounced the Cairo attacks and also condemned the related attacks on the US consulate in Libya, the AP reports. But it took him nearly a full day to do so, and his declaration came after a phone call with President Obama that the Atlantic Wire describes as "tense." During the call, Morsi denounced the film that sparked the violence and asked Obama "to put an end to such behavior." The White House is now more concerned about its relationship with Egypt than Libya, where US Ambassador Chris Stevens was killed, the New York Times reports; the US was already concerned about the direction of Morsi's Islamist government before his response to the attacks—which the Times describes as "tepid." More from Egypt and Libya:

  • Two US warships are en route to Libya after Stevens and three other Americans were killed in the violence there, the AP reports. They will be stationed off the Libya coast. A fleet of Marines and military aircraft had already reportedly been sent.
  • Not everyone in Libya is chanting against America: The Atlantic Wire has a touching photo gallery showing pro-American rallies, with signs like, "Chris Stevens was a friend to all Libyans" and "Thugs and killers don't represent Benghazi nor Islam."
  • The Obama administration is looking into the possibility that the Libya attack was a terrorist strike specifically planned for the September 11 anniversary, the AP reports. The White House definitely suspects the attack was planned, rather than the spontaneous actions of an angry mob.
  • Meanwhile, WikiLeaks has a different idea on what spurred the attacks. "By the US accepting the UK siege on the Ecuadorian embassy in London [where Julian Assange is currently holed up] it gave tacit approval for attacks on embassies around the world," read a post on its official Twitter feed, the Guardian reports. After an uproar, the tweet was deleted and amended twice. First: "By the US accepting the UK threat to storm the Ecuadorian embassy in London it helped to normalize attacks on embassies." Then: "By the UK threatening to breach the Ecuadorian embassy in London it helped to normalize attacks on embassies, in general. It must retract."
Protests have also broken out in Yemen, and of course, the backlash over Mitt Romney's response continues.

An Egyptian protester throws back a tear gas canister toward riot police, unseen, outside the US embassy in Cairo, Egypt, Thursday, Sept. 13, 2012.
An Egyptian protester throws back a tear gas canister toward riot police, unseen, outside the US embassy in Cairo, Egypt, Thursday, Sept. 13, 2012.   (AP Photo/Nasser Nasser)
Egyptian protesters burn tires as they clash with riot police, unseen, outside the US embassy in Cairo, Egypt, early Thursday, Sept. 13, 2012.
Egyptian protesters burn tires as they clash with riot police, unseen, outside the US embassy in Cairo, Egypt, early Thursday, Sept. 13, 2012.   (AP Photo/Hussein Tallal)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 8 comments
HANKHILL
Sep 13, 2012 11:30 PM CDT
none of the "very nice fun loving people of islam" are a "friend of anyone" they even hate eachother! any money they get goes for weapons! none of the so called "aid money" is never seen by the so called people it was ment for. if they are dumb enough to ask for some of it they are shot. islam is one very"fun thing" we should get out of the whole area and just let them kill eachother. POTUS FUBO GET OUT NOW!
ashthe1
Sep 13, 2012 12:27 PM CDT
The unknown person that made the Anti-Islam film is a discussing person. The mover maker is a person with a bully type demeanor and attitude. The film maker used a pseudonym name. (A fictitious name used by an author to conceal his or her identity; pen name). This discussing person-the film maker, is also anti American. The film maker intensions appear to be to cause trouble between the present USA administration and the people of the Muslim world. The film maker wishes to cause turmoil in this USA administration foreign policy area for the purpose of political advantages.The film maker made a public statement before the US administration did.    
finkster
Sep 13, 2012 10:09 AM CDT
Stop giving American taxpayer's money to these Middle East countries and see how fast they change their attitudes towards America
 

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