ABOVE: People across the Middle East protest against Egyptian government’s crackdown on Muslim Brotherhood
Reactions on Friday around the world to developments in Egypt following clashes in which hundreds of people were killed and thousands injured:
INDONESIA
Thousands of protesters took to the streets after Friday prayers, in several cities across Indonesia, the world’s most populous Muslim country, calling for the bloodshed in Egypt to end. President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said in his annual state-of-the-nation address Friday that the excessive force used to disperse demonstrations in Egypt was against democratic values and humanity. He called on all parties to “build compromise and seek a win-win solution.”
TURKEY
Turkish officials kept up their criticism of the military government’s crackdown, with President Abdulla Gul saying that “all that happened in Egypt is a shame for Islam and the Arab World.” Turkey and Egypt recalled their ambassadors for consultations late Thursday as their relationship worsened.
GERMANY
The Foreign Ministry urged its citizens to refrain from travelling to Egypt, extending a previous warning to include Red Sea beach resorts around Hughada and Sharm El-Sheik. Ministry spokesman Andreas Peschke announced the updated advisory at a news conference in Berlin. Germans who are already in beach resorts were advised to be vigilant and stay in close touch with hotel management and travel agents.
The German government also announced Friday it was suspending 25 million euros in aid to Egypt for climate and environmental protection projects. Funding for new development projects will not be approved for the time being, said Development Minister Dirk Niebel.
SWITZERLAND
The Foreign Ministry warned against all travel to Egypt, saying there was a risk that the violent clashes between government forces and protesters “will spread throughout the country.” The ministry advised Swiss citizens already in Egypt to keep informed, obey curfews and stay away from crowds or “events of all kinds.”
FINLAND, SWEDEN, NORWAY AND DENMARK
The Nordic countries changed their advice to citizens, warning against all non-essential travel to Egypt. Several tour operators cancelled trips to Egypt and began returning tourists early from holiday resorts.
POLAND
The Foreign Ministry is advising Polish citizens that if they travel to Egypt they should stay in resorts, avoid big cities, bazaars, shopping malls, and museums. The ministry says on its website that it considers Red Sea resorts as safe.
Polish tourists returning from the beach resort of Hurghada told TVN24 in Warsaw that all tours were cancelled, except visits to the town of Hurghada, and that armed guards were stationed at the town’s airport.
TALIBAN
The Taliban condemned the violence and called for the restoration of the deposed president, Mohammed Morsi. In a statement signed by The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, the name under which the Taliban ruled Afghanistan until ousted by a U.S. invasion, they also called on international organizations to take practical steps to stop the violence and “not be satisfied with only condemning this barbaric incident.”
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