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Egypt’s Mursi slams ‘oppressive’ Syrian regime on Iran visit

Aug 30, 2012

Tehran, Iran: Egypt’s President Mohammed Mursi has criticised Syria’s regime, calling it “oppressive,” during a visit to Syria’s key ally Iran.

Mursi’s visit to Iran on Thursday was the first by an Egyptian leader to the Islamic Republic in three decades. It represents a major thaw in relations between the two countries since Mursi, an Islamist, became president in June in the aftermath of the country’s 2011 uprising.

Egypt’s President Mohammed Morsi has criticised Syria’s regime, calling it “oppressive,” during a visit to Syria’s key ally Iran. AP

But the two countries remain divided over Syria’s crisis. Shiite Iran backs the Damascus regime while there is widespread sympathy in Egypt for the rebels seeking to oust President Bashar Assad.

Mursi was attending a summit of the 120-member Nonaligned Movement. Egyptian officials have said they do not expect top-level bilateral meetings with their Iranian counterparts.

AP

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