Egypt reacts angrily to South African criticism

A diplomatic spat has broken out between South Africa and Egypt, following South Africa’s description of Mohamed Morsi’s ousting as an “unconstitutional removal.”

In a statement issued on Tuesday the South African government called for an end to violence and expressed concern about the “high number of deaths amongst protesters demonstrating against the unconstitutional removal of Egypt’s elected president.”

“Violence against a legitimate protest does not further the cause of democracy or contribute towards healing the differences between the people in a polarized society such as Egypt,” the statement reads, adding that the “democratic aspirations” of the Egyptian people must be addressed through an all-inclusive legal process.

The statement further calls for the release of Morsi, who has been held since July 3 when he was ousted by the Armed Forces. Prior to the levelling of charges against him this week, the Armed Forces said that he was being held for his own protection.

The South African government also described Morsi’s removal and the suspension of the Constitution as being “in breach of the norms and standards adopted by the African Union.”

In a statement published on Facebook, the Egyptian Foreign Ministry described these comments as “yet another inaccurate reading of the current situation in Egypt that relies on false information and ignores the Egyptian people’s will that manifested itself during the June 30 revolution.”

The Foreign Ministry describes South Africa’s presentation of events as “an insult to the will of millions of Egyptians,” noting that Egypt was one of the first countries to support the South African people in its fight against the apartheid regime.

“Rather than describing protests involving firearms and Molotov cocktails against security forces as well as road blocking and threats against vital installations as legitimate protests,” the Foreign Ministry statement reads, “the South African government should concentrate on restoring the rights of its protesting miners against whom the most brutal force was used rather than interfering in the internal affairs of an African country of the size and standing of Egypt.”