CAIRO, June 16 (RIA Novosti) – Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi has announced the decision to sever of diplomatic relations with and to recall Egypt's charge d'affaires from Damascus.
“We decided to break off relations with the current regime in Syria and to close that regime's embassy in Cairo. We also intend to recall Egypt's charge d'affaires [from Damascus],” Morsi said at the ‘Support for Syria' rally that gathered thousands of people in Cairo on Saturday.
“All Egyptians representing various political forces, Muslims or Christians, unite with the Syrian people against those who rule the country at present,” he said.
Egypt’s Islamist president called on Lebanon's Hezbollah militants, who have been fighting alongside troops loyal to President Bashar Assad against the Syrian rebels, to leave Syria.
He also urged the international community to enforce a no-fly zone over Syria.
Egypt, which had previously appeared less confrontational toward Bashar Assad’s regime, joined calls this week from Sunni Muslim religious organizations for a jihad against Assad and his Shiite allies, according to Reuters.
