US backed Morsi and coup against him: Analyst

A political analyst says the US sanctioned the Egyptian Army’s coup d’état against the country’s former President Mohamed Morsi, who, paradoxically, also enjoyed Washington’s support during his presidency, Press TV reports.

“We should be under no illusions, the Egyptian military may have differences within its ranks, but ultimately it tows the line, it takes its orders from Washington DC,” said Michel Chossudovsky, with the Center for Research on Globalization.

Describing the Egyptian Army as the “largest recipient of US military aid after Israel” and a “strong ally” of Washington, Chossudovsky said the coup d’état was orchestrated with the green light from the Pentagon.

“US Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel as well as the US Chief of Staff General Martin Dempsey were in permanent liaison with the architects of the coup in the two weeks preceding the military takeover,” Chossudovsky added.

Meanwhile, Chossudovsky said the Egyptian protesters consider Morsi as the US proxy and blame his government for pursuing massive austerity measures that resulted in rising food prices, unemployment and the collapse in the standard of living.

Although the US strategy was to control the coup d’état in order to manipulate the protest movement and “prevent the accession of a real people’s government,” the political analyst said, Washington’s actions are causing internal conflict “which could lead to a process of destabilization on a much broader scale.”

“This crisis has a bearing not only on Egypt, but on the broader region because Egypt is very strategic for America; it’s a gateway for North Africa and is also a gateway for sub-Saharan Africa,” Chossudovsky warned.

Egypt’s Health Ministry said on Monday that at least 40 people had been killed during the clashes between the army and Morsi supporters outside the Republican Guard barracks in the capital, Cairo.

Egypt has been the scene of rallies and clashes between thousands of supporters and opponents of the ousted president as political turmoil escalates in the North African country.

Morsi was unseated on July 3, and the Chief Justice of Egypt’s Supreme Constitutional Court, Adli Mansour, was sworn in as interim president of Egypt on July 4.

Morsi is reportedly being held “preventively” by the military. Senior army officials say he might face formal charges over accusations made by his opponents.