Egypt expels Turkish ambassador. Egyptians have held protests outside the Turkish embassy in Cairo Egypt has told the Turkish ambassador to leave the country and downgraded relations between the two countries. Egypts foreign ministry blamed Turkeys continued interference in its countrys internal affairs. Turkeys diplomatic representation has been lowered to the level of charge daffaires, the ministry said in a statement. Egypt has already recalled its ambassador from Turkey. Turkey has criticised the overthrow of Islamist President Mohammed Morsi. Egypt has been in turmoil since Mr Morsi was deposed in July. Thousands of Muslim Brotherhood members have been detained in a crackdown the interim authorities have portrayed as a struggle against terrorism. Hundreds of people have also been killed in clashes with security forces. Bitter row Turkey has been a vocal critic of Mr Morsis removal and the militarys actions, describing it as an unacceptable coup. Cairos decision to expel ambassador Huseyin Avni Botsali comes a day after Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan called for the release of Mr Morsi. Speaking on Saturday, Egypts Foreign Ministry spokesman Badr Abdelatty said Turkey was attempting to influence public opinion against Egyptian interests, supported meetings of organisations that seek to create instability in the country. Relations between Egypt and Turkey have deteriorated since July. The two countries recalled their ambassadors following the violent dispersal of pro-Morsi protest camps in August. Turkeys ambassador to Cairo returned in September, but the Egyptian ambassador to Turkey was never reinstalled. Mr Erdogan, like Mr Morsi, has his roots in political Islam. Ankara and Istanbul have hosted a series of meetings of the international Muslim Brotherhood.
Posted on: Sat, 23 Nov 2013 10:52:55 +0000
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