IRAN’S LEADER EXPRESSES REGRET OVER SITUATIAN IN EGYPT

       Teheran, 21 Ramadhan 1434/29 July 2013 (MINA) – Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei has voiced regret over the situation in Egypt, calling it “very painful.”

       The Leader made the remarks during a meeting with Iranian students in Tehran on Sunday, according to Press TV report monitored by Mi’raj News Agency (MINA).

       Referring to some countries of the region, Ayatollah Khamenei said “the depth of the Islamic Awakening is existent in these countries, but because issues have been mismanaged and [they] blundered, today, the situation in the great country of Egypt has become very painful.”

        Ayatollah Khamenei referred to the Islamic Awakening in the region, saying, the movement is a “very important issue that cannot be ruined by the West’s antitheses.”

       On July 3, army chief General Abdel Fattah al-Sisi announced that President Mohamed Morsi was no longer in office and declared that the head of the Supreme Constitutional Court, Adly Mahmoud Mansour, had been appointed as the new interim president of Egypt. The army also suspended the constitution.

        Army officials said Morsi, who took office in June 2012, was being held “preventively” by the military.

         On July 5, Muslim Brotherhood supreme leader Mohammed Badie said the coup against Morsi was illegal and millions would remain on the street until he is reinstated as president.

        According to the Egyptian sources, at least 150 people have been killed and 5,200 others wounded in unabated clashes between the Morsi’s supporters and opponents across the country. (T/P012/E1)

Mi’raj News Agency (MINA)