Turkish FM Davutoğlu condemns massacre in Egypt

ANKARA

Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu speaks at a press conference in Istanbul July 4 regarding the unrest in Egypt. DHA photo

Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu has condemned the attack outside the headquarters of the Republican Guard in Egypt’s capital.

“I strongly condemn the massacre during the morning prayers in the name of basic human values that we have been defending,” Davutoğlu wrote on his Twitter account.

At least 42 Muslim Brotherhood supporters were killed earlier today when the army opened fire on protesters outside an elite army headquarters in Cairo.

“Despite provocations, we expect from our Egyptian brothers to protect democracy and free will in dignity,” Davutoğlu added. The foreign minister urged the start of a political normalization process respecting the people’s will.

“Egypt is the hope for the rising demand for democracy in the Middle East and Turkey will always be in solidarity with the Egyptian people,” he said.

Deputy Prime Minister Bekir Bozdağ echoed Davutoğlu’s remarks. “I condemn and curse the ones who ordered and committed this massacre,” Bozdağ wrote on his Twitter account.

Ministry calls for support for Egyptian people

The Foreign Ministry issued a separate statement to condemn the attack. “This attack, targeting a mass of people, is seen as an incident that could cause extremely fatal developments ... We call on the international community to side with democracy and support the Egyptian people’s struggle for democracy,” the statement said.