Embassies in Egypt will be protected: Mohammed Morsi

Brussels: Egypt's Islamist President Mohammed Morsi on Thursday condemned the attack on Libya that killed the American ambassador and vowed to protect foreign embassies in Cairo, where police were using tear gas to disperse protesters at the US mission.

American missions have been attacked in three Arab nations Yemen, Egypt and Libya.

Speaking during a visit to the European Union in Brussels, Mr Morsi said he had spoken to President Barack Obama and condemned "in the clearest terms" the Tuesday attacks on the US consulate in Benghazi in which the ambassador and three other Americans died.

He also harshly criticised the movie, which came to attention in Egypt after its trailer was dubbed into Arabic and posted on YouTube.

"We condemn strongly ... all those who launch such provocations and who stand behind that hatred," Mr Morsi said, adding that he had asked Obama "to put an end to such behaviour."

Advertisement

"But at the same time we say this cannot be taken as a justification for attacking embassies or consulates," he said.

"The Egyptian state is responsible for protecting embassies and consulates, and the Egyptian people will not engage in these ... unlawful acts."

Advertisement