Iran calls on Egypt to show respect for legitimate public demands

Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Abbas Araqchi has expressed concern over the ongoing unrest across Egypt, calling on the Cairo government to respect the legitimate demands of the protesters.

The Iranian official said on Wednesday that the Islamic Republic is closely monitoring the latest developments in Egypt, and is concerned about the prolongation of crisis in the country which has left a number of Egyptians dead and wounded.

He said Iran believes that respect for people’s legitimate demands, strengthening of the national unity, negation of violence and vigilance in the face of conspiracies provide the best way out of the current turmoil in the Arab country.

Araqchi further noted that Egyptians can resolve their problems by themselves and defend their national interests.

The political showdown in Egypt has neared its climax as military deadline for President Mohamed Morsi to resolve the North African country’s political crisis has expired.

Supporters and opponents of Morsi staged rival rallies across the capital, Cairo, on Wednesday evening as the Army’s 48-hour deadline for the president to yield to the demands of the demonstrators or face military intervention approached.

Several political groups say the government is dominated by Muslim Brotherhood. The opposition also accuses Morsi of deviating from the 2011 revolution that toppled the Western-backed regime of Hosni Mubarak.

Morsi’s supporters, however, say the president is cleansing Egyptian institutions of corruption. They also believe he needs time to put into practice the principles of the 2011 revolution.

Egypt has witnessed continuing anti-government protests since Morsi took office in June 2012 in a landmark election held following the ouster of Mubarak.

Several Egyptian clerics and some religious circles have warned against a civil war and called on both sides to be calm.