Iraqi Lawmaker highlights US secret role in recent events in Egypt

Washington has been playing a clandestine role in the recent events in Egypt which led to the ouster of democratically-elected President Mohammad Mursi, an Iraqi lawmaker said. "The recent events in Egypt was the product of the provocations of some secret elements or better to say the US," Mahmoud Othman told FNA on Sunday. He described the US as a hypocrite country, and said, "The US behavior towards regional issues is shown based on its own will and calculations." Egypt plunged into violence after the country’s army ousted President Mursi, suspended the constitution, and dissolved the parliament on July 3. The military overthrow followed days of mass protests against Mursi. The army also declared chief justice of Egypt’s Supreme Constitutional Court, Adly Mansour, as interim president. On Wednesday, the Egyptian Prosecutor General ordered the arrest of Muslim Brotherhood leaders including the supreme leader of the group, Mohammed Badie, on charges of inciting violence. Many people have been killed in violent clashes involving supporters and opponents of Mursi and security forces over the past few days, with more than 80 deaths reported on July 8 alone.