United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has condemned the "excessive use of force" against supporters of ousted President Mohamed Morsi, calling for an end to violence and bloodshed in the Arab country.
Ban made the remarks in a statement issued by his spokesman on Saturday, a day after tens of thousands of people took to the streets across Egypt in response to a call by the Muslim Brotherhood for nationwide protests on the “Friday of Rage” against the army and its handpicked government.
The security forces and opponents of the Brotherhood fired on the supporters of ousted President Mohamed Morsi, leaving at least 173 people dead and some 1,330 more injured across Egypt.
The UN secretary general “strongly condemns attacks on churches, hospitals, and other public facilities, which he finds unacceptable," said Martin Nesirky, the spokesman for Ban.
"Whatever the grievances, there is no justification for destruction of infrastructure and property so important to Egypt's future," the spokesman added.
The UN chief said in the statement that preventing further loss of life in Egypt should be people’s "highest priority at this dangerous moment".
"He urges those in the street and those in authority to use maximum restraint and shift immediately to de-escalation,” the statement said.
"He appeals to the authorities and to the political leaders to adopt a credible plan to contain the violence and revive the political process hijacked by violence," it added.
Ban made the remarks in a statement issued by his spokesman on Saturday, a day after tens of thousands of people took to the streets across Egypt in response to a call by the Muslim Brotherhood for nationwide protests on the “Friday of Rage” against the army and its handpicked government.
The security forces and opponents of the Brotherhood fired on the supporters of ousted President Mohamed Morsi, leaving at least 173 people dead and some 1,330 more injured across Egypt.
The UN secretary general “strongly condemns attacks on churches, hospitals, and other public facilities, which he finds unacceptable," said Martin Nesirky, the spokesman for Ban.
"Whatever the grievances, there is no justification for destruction of infrastructure and property so important to Egypt's future," the spokesman added.
The UN chief said in the statement that preventing further loss of life in Egypt should be people’s "highest priority at this dangerous moment".
"He urges those in the street and those in authority to use maximum restraint and shift immediately to de-escalation,” the statement said.
"He appeals to the authorities and to the political leaders to adopt a credible plan to contain the violence and revive the political process hijacked by violence," it added.
