Egypt summons Turkish envoy over ‘meddling’

CAIRO

Turkish ambassador to Cairo Hüseyin Avni Botsalı. AA photo

Egypt’s Foreign Ministry summoned the Turkish ambassador to Cairo on Nov. 11 over Ankara’s calls for ousted President Mohamed Morsi to be released.

Hüseyin Avni Botsalı met with Egyptian Deputy Foreign Minister Hatem Seif al-Nasr who said that remarks made by Turkish officials regarding Egypt were considered as meddling in Egypt’s domestic affairs, Anadolu Agency reported, citing Turkish diplomatic sources. Relations between Turkey and Egypt have been tense since the army’s July 3 ouster of Morsi, a move Ankara has described as a “military coup.”

The Turkish envoy retuned to Cairo early in September, but Egypt says its ambassador will not return to Ankara unless interference by Turkey ceases.