Clinton urges Egypt's military to give way

Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi. Photo: AFP

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has met Field Marshal Mohamed Hussein Tantawi, head of Egypt's military council, to urge a smooth transition to full democratic rule.

The meeting came a day after crowds protested against her meeting with President Mohammed Morsi and the rising power of Islamists.

Tensions between Egypt's new civilian leader and its senior generals, who took interim power after the ouster of former president Hosni Mubarak last year, have risen since Field Marshal Tantawi's council stripped Dr Morsi of some of his powers and granted itself legislative authority after the court-ordered disbanding of the parliament.

Egypt still has no constitution, a new government has yet to be named and the economy is struggling to recover from the uprising against Mubarak.

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Since arriving in the country on Saturday, Mrs Clinton has avoided direct comment about the military's power grab. She repeatedly stressed that Egypt's future is for its citizens to decide, not the US.

''I have come to Cairo to reaffirm the strong support of the United States for the Egyptian people and their democratic transition,'' she said on Saturday.

''As you move forward, we will be there with support. Your choices will decide the future of this country.''

Security guards said an estimated 6000 people crowded the street in front of Mrs Clinton's hotel when she arrived in the capital of the Arab world's most populous nation. They set off fireworks, flashed laser lights and chanted as they waved Egyptian flags. One placard said, ''Go to hell, Hillary.'' Another said ''You like the Islamists, Hillary? Take them with you.''

Secularists and other groups have voiced concern that the priority of Islamists such as Dr Morsi, who comes from the ranks of the Brotherhood, is to advance their own agenda and dominate politics at the expense of the broader national interest. Many say they are worried that the US is lining up alongside the Brotherhood, which was the dominant group in parliament before the assembly was disbanded, and against the military.

Mrs Clinton said yesterday that the US would like to see the military return to a ''purely national security role''. She also spoke about the need for the Brotherhood and the generals to end their standoff by engaging in talks.

She called for ''an inclusive and transparent process to draft a new constitution that upholds universal rights and the rule of law, a constitution for all Egyptians''.

''It will take dialogue and compromise among all stakeholders and parties to achieve these goals and avoid confrontations that could derail progress towards democracy,'' Mrs Clinton said during an appearance with Foreign Minister Mohamed Kamel Amr.

Mrs Clinton spent the morning in Cairo yesterday meeting Christian leaders, Egyptian women and a business for technology entrepreneurs called Flat6Labs. Later she was to open a new US consulate in Alexandria, before continuing on to Israel.

During her meeting with Dr Morsi, she underscored the value of Egypt's peace treaty with Israel, saying that in the past 30 years Egyptians had lived free of conflict.

She also outlined millions of dollars in economic assistance the US will provide to Egypt, giving details of a $1 billion package announced last year by President Barack Obama.

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Source: http://www.theage.com.au/world/clinton-urges-egypts-military-to-give-way-20120715-22451.html

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