BAKU/ ANKARA
Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said on Thursday that Turkey strongly condemned the forcible dispersal by Egyptian security forces of the supporters of ousted President Morsi who he said "sought to voice their legitimate demands through peaceful sit-ins."
Speaking at a summit meeting of the foreign ministers of the Cooperation Council of Turkic Speaking States in Baku, Azerbaijan, Davutoglu said balances in Egypt affected those of the entire region, urging the restoration of a civilian administration and constitutional legitimacy in the country in the shortest possible time.
He said the crisis in Egypt should be resolved in a way that would meet all democratic demands so as to avoid further radicalization.
On Wednesday, security forces dispersed two sit-ins staged by Morsi supporters in Rabaa al-Adawiya Square and Giza's Nahda Square.
The Health Ministry said at least 278 Egyptians were killed and 2,001 others injured in violence that engulfed the country, including 61 in Rabaa and 21 in Nahda squares.
But a member of the National Alliance for the Defense of Legitimacy, a coalition of Islamist parties and figures supportive of Morsi, put the toll at 2,600.
- Turkey at center of Egyptian diplomacy
Turkey, the state to display the first and strongest reaction against the killing of anti-coup supporters in Egypt, has also lead the way in diplomatic efforts following the intervention.
Davutoglu contacted his counterparts in Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, France, Germany and the United States as well as UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon following the violent dispersal on Wednesday.
Davutoglu is expected to continue his diplomatic efforts and to hold a phone conversation with European Union's top diplomat Catherine Ashton on Thursday, Anadolu Agency's Tugrul Cam in Ankara reports.
- Davutoglu calls on international community to adopt "a consistent stance"
Davutoglu emphasized the necessity of the international society to adopt a clear and mutual attitude in relation to the incidents in Egypt.
Following Davutoglu's highlighting of the importance of putting an end to the bloodshed and restoring democracy in Egypt through dialogue, statements were released by various countries over Wednesday's violent police dispersals.
German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle expressed "grave concern" while US Secretary of State John Kerry said the incidents were "a serious blow to reconciliation efforts and ran counter to the Egyptians' aspirations for peace."
Meanwhile, diplomatic sources agreed on the formation of a mutual opinion in the international community, adding that the massacre was a major obstacle inhibiting the democratization and normalization in Egypt.
- Fears of return to Mubarak era
Fears were heightened after heads of twenty-five governorates out of 27 were replaced by Egypt's interim government following the military coup. Nineteen of the newly appointed governors were said to be retired generals.
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