Egypt’s Mursi Seeks Home Reprieve in Syria, Ethiopia Crises

Egyptian President Mohamed Mursi cut ties with Syria and sent his foreign minister to Ethiopia over a dam dispute as the Islamist leader flexed political muscle two weeks before he faces mass rallies against his rule.
In suspending diplomatic relations with Syria and calling for a no-fly zone over the war-ravaged country, Mursi builds on earlier efforts to paint himself as a leader trying to reclaim Egypt’s position as an Arab political powerhouse. The move drew a sharp rebuke from Syria, which said he was pandering to U.S. and Israeli interests in the region.

Gianluigi Guercia/AFP via Getty Images

Egyptian President Mohamed Mursi is building on earlier efforts to paint himself as a leader trying to reclaim Egypt's position as an Arab political powerhouse.

Egyptian President Mohamed Mursi is building on earlier efforts to paint himself as a leader trying to reclaim Egypt's position as an Arab political powerhouse. Photographer: Gianluigi Guercia/AFP via Getty Images

Egypt and its army will stand by the Syrian people “until their rights are granted and a new elected leadership is chosen,” Mursi told a stadium packed with Islamist supporters on June 15 as he took direct aim at Hezbollah, the Lebanon-based and Iran-backed Shiite militia that has joined the fight against Syrian rebels. “Today we stand against Hezbollah for Syria.”
More than two years after the uprising that ousted his predecessor Hosni Mubarak, Mursi faces rising criticism over his stewardship of the economy and the polarization in the Arab world’s most populous nation. Secular and youth activists have called for mass anti-government demonstrations at the end of the month designed to strip him of legitimacy and build pressure for early presidential elections.           
                               ‘Delusionary’ Opponents
Mursi used his speech to assail his detractors, spearheaded by the Tamarod or “Rebel” campaign. He repeated that the push for protests was backed by former regime supporters, and said there are those who are “delusionary” and who want to undercut the “stability” that is growing day by day.
Egypt has decided to close the Syrian embassy in Cairo and is also recalling its envoy from Damascus, Mursi said. Syria condemned the decisions as “irresponsible” and reflective of Mursi’s “attempt to implement the Muslim Brotherhood’s agenda,” the state-run Syrian News Agency reported, citing an unidentified senior government official. The official said Mursi’s call for a no-fly zone violated Syria’s sovereignty and aimed to “serve the goals of Israel and the U.S.”
The opposition has criticized Mursi’s government for its inability to work to block Ethiopia’s construction of a dam that Egyptians say may curtail their country’s access to vital Nile River water.         
                                                Approval Ratings
The U.S.-trained engineer’s approval rating continued its decline. By the end of his 11th month in office, 42 percent of respondents to a poll taken by the Egyptian Center for Public Opinion Research, or Baseera, voiced approval for him compared with 46 percent in the prior month. Of the 2,051 people surveyed, 54 percent said they supported early presidential elections, Baseera reported in a poll released on its website. The survey, conducted May 29 and May 30, had a margin of error of less than 3 percent.
Mursi’s critics argue the dam dispute is an example of the government’s inability to steer the country forward or safeguard its interests. The Syria decision, while juxtaposed with a growing international outcry against the regime of Bashar al-Assad, was seen as another attempt by the president to obscure his domestic challenges.
Cutting relations with Assad’s regime is a necessity though it shouldn’t be used as a “political maneuver” ahead of June 30 to secure satisfaction and mobilize Salafi support against those who want change, Amr Hamzawy, a secular former lawmaker, said on his Twitter account. “This is a presidency that presents evidence every day of its failure.”
Foreign Minister Mohamed Kamel Amr was scheduled to meet Ethiopian officials today to discuss the dam project and voiceEgypt’s reservations, including concerns with its design, the state-run Ahram Online reported. Mursi’s secretary for foreign affairs, Khaled Al-Qazzaz, told foreign reporters on June 13 that Egypt supported African nations’ rights to develop, though he emphasized that their development couldn’t and shouldn’t come at Egypt’s expense.
To contact the reporter on this story: Tarek El-Tablawy in Cairo at teltablawy@bloomberg.net
To contact the editor responsible for this story: Andrew J. Barden at barden@bloomberg.net

Egypt, Ethiopia, Ivory Coast, Tunisia reach play-offs

 

June 16, 2013

by David Legge (AFP)

JOHANNESBURG — Egypt, Ethiopia, Ivory Coast and Tunisia Sunday became the first countries to reach the play-offs in the Africa zone of the 2014 World Cup qualifiers.
A spectacular own goal by Bernard Parker gifted lowest Group A seeds Ethiopia a 2-1 triumph over 2010 World Cup hosts South Africa in Addis Ababa and an unassailable five-point lead with one round left.
Mohamed Salah followed up a hat-trick against Zimbabwe last weekend by scoring the goal that earned Egypt a 1-0 win over Mozambique in Maputo and created an eight-point Group G gap over Guinea.
Reigning African Footballer of the Year Yaya Toure netted twice in Dar es Salaam as Ivory Coast recovered from conceding a second-minute goal to defeat Tanzania 4-2 in Group C and they cannot be overtaken.
Tunisia needed a point in Equatorial Guinea to secure first place in Group B and that is what they got from a 1-1 draw with Oussama Darragi equalising for the ‘Carthage Eagles’.
Ghana, who were quarter-finalists the last World Cup, took a significant step toward reaching the play-offs with a 2-0 win over Lesotho in Maseru thanks to goals from Christian Atsu and captain Asamoah Gyan.
The ‘Black Stars’ moved one point ahead of Zambia in Group D and host the shock 2012 Africa Cup of Nations champions in the final series of mini-league fixtures during September.
South Africa took on Ethiopia before a sell-out 25,000 crowd needing at least a point to stay in contention and an attacking approach paid off on 34 minutes when Parker cracked a half-volley wide of Jemal Tassew into the far corner.
But the ‘Walyas Antelopes’ — 19 places below ‘Bafana Bafana’ (The Boys) on the African rankings — levelled just before half-time when Getaneh Kebede rifled the ball into the net from close range after a scramble.
The decisive goal came after 70 minutes when Parker fluffed an attempted clearance off an Ethiopian free kick, sending a flying header past goalkeeper and captain Itumeleng Khune into his sown net.
South Africa had several late half-chances but it was Ethiopia, who returned to the Africa Cup of Nations tournament this year after three decades in the doldrums, who came closest to scoring.
Salah helped Swiss club Basel reach the Europa League semi-finals this year and he was once again the star for Egypt, scoring the only goal in the Mozambican capital five minutes before half-time.
The ‘Pharaohs’ maintained the only perfect record in the African qualifying competition with a fifth consecutive victory and finish their schedule at home to second-place Guinea.
A stoppage-time goal from substitute Wilfried Bony sealed victory for Ivory Coast, who recovered from conceding an early goal to lead 3-2 at half-time in a thriller at Benjamin Mkapa Stadium.
Toure bagged a first-half brace after Lacina Traore had equalised while Amri Kiemba and Thomas Ulimwengu scored for the ‘Taifa Stars’, who stayed third behind Ivory Coast and Morocco.
Democratic Republic of Congo and six-time World Cup qualifiers Cameroon drew 0-0 in Kinshasa — a result that eliminated the Congolese and left Libya with a two-point Group I lead.
While new ‘Indomitable Lions’ coach Volker Finke will be relieved at avoiding a second loss in as many weeks after a 2-0 defeat by Togo, the absence of injured striker Samuel Eto’o was sorely felt.
Saphir Taider scored early in the second half as Algeria triumphed 1-0 in Rwanda and Mali must beat Benin in Bamako later Sunday to prevent the ‘Desert Foxes’ making the play-offs
Juvenal Edjogo converted a first-half penalty for the Equatoguineans in Malabo — his fourth goal of the qualifying campaign — and Darragi brought Tunisia level on 64 minutes from another spot kick.