Turkey’s ‘unfortunate UN attempts’ unlikely to succeed: Egypt

CAIRO

A supporter of the Muslim Brotherhood and Egypt's ousted president Mohamed Morsi fires fireworks towards police during clashes in Cairo on August 14, 2013, as security forces backed by bulldozers moved in on two huge pro-Morsi protest camps, launching a long-threatened crackdown that left dozens dead. AFP PHOTO / MOSAAB EL-SHAMY

Egypt has expressed “dismay” at what they said were “unfortunate” attempts by Turkey and Qatar to refer developments in Egypt to the U.N. Security Council.

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan called today for an urgent U.N. Security Council meeting over Egypt’s bloody crackdown on supporters of ousted President Mohamed Morsi, which has left hundreds dead.

Erdoğan’s office said Aug. 14 he had spoken to U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and separately to all permanent members of the Security Council this week about the crisis.

According to a report from Egypt’s al-Ahram, Egyptian diplomats expressed “dismay” at what they said were “unfortunate” attempts by Ankara and Doha to refer developments in Egypt to the U.N. Security Council, adding that this effort was unlikely to succeed.

Turkey’s stance has infuriated Egypt’s interim government, which last month voiced “strong resentment” at Erdoğan’s comments backing the ousted Morsi.