Pointing to an earlier statement by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in defense of Egyptian women, Foreign Minister Mohamed Kamel Amr has rejected US interference in Egypt’s internal affairs.
The statement regarding US interference comes despite his government's acceptance of over US$1.3 million per year in US military aid, which includes shipments of tear gas and other weapons for use against protesters.
In a speech at Georgetown University on Tuesday, Clinton said: "This systematic degradation of Egyptian women dishonors the revolution, disgraces the state and its uniform and is not worthy of a great people."
US State Department spokesperson Victoria Nuland, at a press conference in Washington on Tuesday, rejected claims that the US encourages democracy in Egypt but closes an eye to the clashes that took place in the streets of Cairo.
“We call on the Egyptian authorities to show restraint vis-a-vis peaceful demonstrations,” she said, adding that the US is pleased with the high turnout in Egypt's parliamentary elections.
White House spokesman Jay Carney said the Egyptian authorities should respect and protect human rights, including the right to peaceful assembly and expression.
He also called for bringing those responsible for the violence, including security personnel, to account.
Translated from Al-Masry Al-Youm
