Moroccan Diplomats Play down TV Report about Egypt’s ‘Coup’

Moroccan diplomats have dismissed reports that relations with Egypt are under strain after a report aired on Moroccan state television described Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi as the leader of a military coup.

Morocco’s official Channel 1 recently aired a report headlined “the political effects of the military coup in Egypt” saying that the “coup” had undermined the country’s security and led to unrest still felt today.

A Moroccan diplomat speaking to Al-Ahram Arabic on Friday dismissed the report as “an attempt to sabotage relations between Morocco and Egypt.”

The diplomat insisted that Morocco views Egypt as a strategic partner and that Moroccan King Mohammed VI has expressed his support for Egypt and its transition of power in a recent message to al-Sisi.

Al-Sisi, elected president in 2014, was the leader of the armed forces during the ouster of president Mohamed Morsi in 2013 following protests demanding he step down.

Reuter’s Aswat Masriya website reported that the Moroccan ambassador to Cairo, Mohamed Saad El-Eleimy, had implored Egypt to disregard the report and be wary of such “attempts” without specifying who was behind them.

Morocco had previously declared support for Egypt’s campaign against militant violence, which has spiked since Morsi’s ouster.

Bilateral relations were also tested in July when Egyptian news anchor Amani El-Khayat criticise King Mohammed for striking a political deal with Moroccan Islamists. In widely reported comments, El-Khayat stated that the kingdom’s economy is built on “prostitution.”

El-Khayat was sacked from Egyptian satellite channel ONTV where her show aired and issued an apology soon after.

Source: Ahram Online