US president Barack Obama has condemned the military rulers in Egypt for using violence against its opponents. President Obama was responding to the crackdown yesterday on anti-military demonstrators which left over 500 people dead.
Supporters of the Muslim Brotherhood are marching in major Egyptian cities this evening to protest the violence from yesterday.
Muslim Brotherhood supporters today stormed a government building and its entrance has been set alight.
At the El Iman mosque in the eastern Nasr City district, dozens of bodies lay wrapped in sheets, waiting to be identified.
A month-long state of emergency has been declared in the country following the violence that began when security forces stormed two camps set up in support of Mr. Morsi.
Mr. Obama says the United States is cancelling a joint military exercise with Egypt that had been scheduled for next month.
Seperatly, the United Nations human rights chief today also appealed to all parties in Egypt to act with restraint and initiate talks.
"I deplore the loss of life and call on all in Egypt to seek a way out of the violence. I urge the Egyptian authorities and security forces to act with the utmost restraint" said Navi Pillay, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.
"What is needed is genuinely inclusive reconciliation. I therefore appeal again to all sides to engage in urgent dialogue to avoid further violence and hate speech, with the aim of restoring constitutional order through free and democratic elections".
US President expressed condolences to families of those killed
Yesterday, security forces clashed with demonstrators demanding the reinstatement of deposed President Mohamed Morsi. Ms. Pillay noted that there were conflicting reports about the scale of the violence as government officials said more than 500 had been killed while the Muslim Brotherhood put the figure at more than 2,000.
"The number of people killed or injured, even according to the government’s figures, point to an excessive, even extreme, use of force against demonstrators. There must be an independent, impartial, effective and credible investigation of the conduct of the security forces. Anyone found guilty of wrongdoing should be held to account".
Ms. Pillay reminded Egyptian authorities that their security forces are bound by the rule of law and must act with full respect for human rights, including the rights to free speech and peaceful assembly.
Main image: IRIN/Saeed Shahat
