US closes Cairo embassy until August 10
The US Embassy in Cairo will be closed from Monday until next Saturday, the embassy announced in a security message for US citizens posted on its website.
“The Department of State has instructed certain US Embassies and Consulates to close for days not previously scheduled as holidays in the period Monday, August 4 through Saturday, August 10,” it said.
“Accordingly, the Embassy Cairo will be closed Monday, August 4 through Saturday, August 10,” it said.
The embassy said US citizens requiring emergency assistance should contact the Embassy switchboard, which is manned 24/7.
“As a matter of general practice, US citizens should avoid areas where large gatherings may occur. Even demonstrations intended to be peaceful can turn confrontational and escalate into violence. You should avoid areas of demonstrations, and exercise caution if in the vicinity of any large gatherings, protests, or demonstrations.”
Mediators’ request to meet Shater was “trap” to undermine Morsi: MB leader
The Muslim Brotherhood said the request by US Deputy Secretary of State William Burns to meet the group’s deputy leader Khairat al-Shater was a trap to undermine ousted President Mohamed Morsi.
“Burns and the Arab mediators were advised by some Egyptian politicians to meet al-Shater under the pretext that he has the final say in the Muslim Brotherhood,” a senior leader of the group told Anadolu Agency.
“The hidden purpose of the advice was to show as if Morsi had no role or say in solving the political crisis in the country, so that increasing international demands for his release would die down,” he added.
“But al-Shater did not fall in the trap and insisted that Morsi is the legitimate president and the only one who can negotiate a solution to the current crisis.”
Media reports suggested earlier that Burns was accompanying the Arab and European diplomats to meet al-Shater in his detention.
A diplomatic source with the US Embassy earlier told AA that Burns and the other mediators might visit Morsi after failure to meet al-Shater.
The Egyptian capital has been abuzz with diplomatic activity in recent days, with officials coming from four continents for talks aimed at resolving Egypt’s political impasse.
Pro-Morsi demonstrators have been staging daily mass rallies and sit-ins nationwide since he was ousted by the powerful military on July 3 following mass protests against him.
The two largest sit-ins are in Cairo’s Rabaa al-Adawiya and Nahda squares.
Burns, Arab mediators might visit Morsi after failure to meet Shater: US Embassy sources
Al-Shater has refused to meet Burns, al-Attiya, al-Nuhayan and European Union envoy Bernadino León.
“Shater refused to meet Arab or foreign visitors and said they should meet President Mohamed Morsi because he is the one in charge and entitled to meet foreign delegations,” sources from the Muslim Brotherhood told AA earlier.
Turkey Tribune
