South Africa decries ouster of Morsi

The South African government on Tuesday decried the ouster of Mohamed Morsi as Egypt's president, calling it a breach of relevant international laws and agreements. Morsi was ousted by Egypt's armed forces last week, one year after he was sworn in as Egypt's first freely elected president. "The South African Government views this as a serious breach of the African Union (AU) Constitutive Act and other relevant instruments, including the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance; the Algiers Decision; and the Lomé Declaration," Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Ebrahim Ebrahim said in a press briefing in Pretoria. He said his government has observed with deep concern the suspension of a democratically-elected president in violation of the Egyptian Constitution. "The South African government considers this event as a major setback for the advancement and consolidation of democracy in Africa," he said. South Africa welcomes and endorses AU's recent decision to "suspend the participation of Egypt in the AU's activities until the restoration of constitutional order," Ebrahim said. The South African government "is deeply perturbed about the potential negative impact of this event on peace, stability and security in Egypt and the region," he said. The South African government calls on all relevant parties to refrain from violence and engage in inclusive political dialogue in order to return to a constitutional order as quickly as possible through the holding of free, fair and all-inclusive elections, said Ebrahim. South Africa has withdrawn all nonessential personnel and families attached to the South African Embassy in Cairo until the situation allows for their return, according to Ebrahim. The South African Embassy in Egypt remains open and is available at all times to assist South African citizens should circumstances require, he said.