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African Union Suspends Egypt Over Coup

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The African Union announced Friday that it has suspended Egypt from membership after the military ouster of democratically elected President Mohammed Morsi.

AU Commission head Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma told a news conference Friday that the removal of Morsi on Wednesday falls under the AU doctrine on unconstitutional changes of government.

“The African Union suspended Egypt from all its activities after the Egyptian military overthrew the elected President Mohamed Morsi following intense protests,” a statement on the African Union’s website said. “Suspension is the union’s usual response to any interruption of constitutional rule by a member state.”

The decision will remain in effect until Egypt restores a constitutional democracy, the statement said.

“The group’s Peace and Security Council announced the move following a meeting Friday in the organization’s headquarters in Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia, to discuss the coup that ousted Egypt’s first democratically elected president.”  —latimes.com

The AU’s Peace and Security Council also said it was sending a team of “high-level personalities” to Egypt to work toward restoring constitutional order.

Until then, Egypt is bracing for clashes between supporters of ousted President Mohammed Morsi and the military that removed him in a coup.

According to the BBC: “Egyptian troops have opened fire on supporters of ousted President Mohammed Morsi marching in Cairo, killing three people and wounding dozens more. The shooting came as crowds moved on the Republican Guard headquarters, where Mr. Morsi is believed to be held. Later the Muslim Brotherhood’s leader told supporters that protests would continue until Mr. Morsi was reinstated.”

“An army spokesman denied that troops had killed the marchers, insisting that soldiers were using only blank rounds and tear gas. It was unclear whether other security forces were involved.

Many others were injured in the clashes, which broke out as thousands of Islamist demonstrators tried to approach the headquarters chanting “traitors” and “Morsi is our president.” A witness told Reuters he saw several people fall to the ground, wounded by shotgun pellets.” – telegraph.co.uk

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