RIYADH
Egyptian interim Prime Minister Hazem al-Beblawi has denounced what he described as "unacceptable and inappropriate" Qatari statements against Egypt.
"Qatar is a sisterly Arab country and we have Arab bonds," al-Beblawi told a Wednesday press conference in Riyadh.
"However, [Qatar] is making unacceptable, inappropriate and unfriendly excesses," he added.
Egypt's interim premier went on to voice regret for what he called Qatari acts "that don't suit the behavior of neighboring countries."
"We are keen on maintaining the Arab bonds and don't want to take any regrettable action," al-Beblawi said.
On Tuesday, Egypt's Foreign Ministry summoned the Qatari charge d'affaires to register its dissatisfaction and urge Qatarto deliver wanted fugitives to justice.
Last December, judicial sources said that Egypt's interim authorities had issued an international arrest warrant for Assem Abdel-Maged, the leader of Egypt's Gamaa Islamiya group who fled to Qatar last year.
It was the second time for Egypt's military-installed government to summon a Qatari diplomat since last July's ouster of elected president Mohamed Morsi by the army.
Since Morsi's removal, Egypt's interim authorities have repeatedly accused Qatar – which had been one of the Morsi administration's closest regional allies during the ousted leader's one year in office – of interfering in Egypt's domestic affairs.
In January, Egypt summoned the Qatari ambassador after Qatar voiced concern over the killing of pro-Morsi demonstrators by Egyptian security forces.
"Qatar should also intervene to stop violations against the Egyptian people committed on its territory," Foreign Ministry spokesman Badr Abdel-Ati said Tuesday.
He was referring to earlier statements by Qatar-based Egyptian scholar Youssef al-Qaradawi – who is also head of the International Union for Muslim Scholars – in which the latter accused the Egyptian military of "destroying" Egypt.
By Ahmed al-Masri
englishnews@aa.com.tr
