Death toll rises, global anxiety about Egypt violence

Islamists in Cairo called for a “Friday of anger” after a crackdown on supporters of ousted elected President Mohamed Morsi  killed 578 people. A Muslim Brotherhood spokesman sent out a call via Twitter, “Anti-coup rallies will depart from all mosques of Cairo and head towards Ramsis square after (traditional Friday) prayer in ‘Friday of Anger’”. The call raised fears of fresh violence as the death toll rose, making it Egypt’s bloodiest day in decades. With the country under a state of emergency, the interior ministry ordered police to use live fire if government buildings are attacked.  International criticism of the bloodshed poured in. The UN Security Council urged all parties in Egypt to exercise “maximum restraint”, “deplored the loss of lives” and called for an end to the violence. President Barack Obama led the international outrage at the bloody crackdown, announcing the cancellation of a joint US-Egyptian military exercise but stopped short of suspending Washington’s annual $1.3 billion in aid to Egypt. The United States has carefully avoided calling Morsi’s ouster a coup, a designation that would require the United States to cut assistance.

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