Former Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi was allowed on Monday to have his first known contact with outsiders since his removal from office. The military-deposed and now detained leader had a two-hour meeting with Catherine Ashton, the European Union foreign policy chief.
According to the BBC: “EU’s Foreign Policy Chief Catherine Ashton says former… President Morsi is ‘well’, but that she does not know where he is being held.
“Baroness Ashton had two hours of ‘in-depth’ discussions with Mr. Morsi on Monday, but declined to give details of what he had told her, insisting: ‘I’m not going to put words in his mouth.’
“She said Mr. Morsi had access to TV and newspapers and followed developments.
“Mr. Morsi has been detained since he was overthrown by the military on 3 July.
“Baroness Ashton’s second visit to Egypt in 12 days comes after more than 70 Morsi supporters were killed in clashes with security forces on Saturday.
“The ousted leader’s allies have said they are planning a major protest in Cairo on Tuesday, and the interim government has warned that any violation of the law will be dealt with ‘firmly.’
“Security officials have also threatened to dismantle the main protest sit-in at a square near the Rabaa al-Adawiya mosque in the capital’s north east, where Saturday’s deadly clashes erupted.”
The Anti-Coup Alliance
According to Al-Jazeera:
On Monday, “Thousands of demonstrators, men and women, chanted slogans against army chief General Abdel Fattah el-Sisi.
“Earlier, the Anti-Coup Alliance of groups protesting against Morsi’s removal also called for a massive turnout for demonstrations on Tuesday.
“They urged Egyptians ‘to go out into the streets and squares, to regain their freedom and dignity – that are being usurped by the bloody coup – and for the rights of the martyrs assassinated by its bullets.’
“Ashton also met el-Sisi, interim President Adly Mansour, and Vice President for International Affairs Mohamed ElBaradei, and representatives of the pro-Morsi coalition.
“‘There were no initiatives presented by Ashton or us, she just heard updates on the situation since her last visit,’ said Mohamed Ali Bishr, a pro-Morsi delegation member.
“A crackdown on Morsi supporters continued on Monday, with the arrest of the president and vice president of the moderate Islamist Wasat party, which has protested against Morsi’s removal.”
