MOSCOW, June 16 (RIA Novosti) – Syria’s authorities have condemned Egypt’s decision to sever diplomatic relations with Damascus and support the uprising against President Bashar Assad.
“The Syrian Arab Republic condemns this irresponsible position,” Al Arabiya said referring to a statement made by an unnamed Syrian official to the SANA news agency.
Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi said on Saturday he will recall Egypt's charge d'affaires from Damascus and called on Lebanon's Hezbollah militants, who have been fighting alongside troops loyal to Assad against the Syrian rebels, to leave Syria.
He also urged the international community to enforce a no-fly zone over Syria.
“All Egyptians representing various political forces, Muslims or Christians, unite with the Syrian people against those who rule the country at present,” he said at the ‘Support for Syria' rally that gathered thousands of people in Cairo.
While denouncing Egypt’s move, the Syrian official said Damascus is “confident that this decision does not represent the will of the Egyptian people.”
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Egypt, which had previously appeared less confrontational toward Assad’s regime, joined calls this week from Sunni Muslim religious organizations for a jihad against Assad and his Shiite allies, according to Reuters.
