Obama Aide Reiterates “Deep” U.S. Concern over Mass Trials in Egypt

A top aide to U.S. President Barack Obama on Wednesday reiterated “deep and growing” concerns about mass trials and death sentences in Egypt.

Susan Rice, Obama’s National Security Advisor, discussed Egypt’ s political transition and regional security issues with visiting Egyptian Foreign Minister Nabil Fahmy, the White House said.

A Egyptian court on Monday sentenced 683 supporters of the Muslim Brotherhood, including the group’s top leader Mohamed Badie, to death over assaulting and murdering policemen in conflicts sparked by the Egyptian military’s ouster of Mohamed Morsi, the country’s first elected president, in July last year.

The United States has urged Egyptian government to end the use of mass trials, reverse mass sentences, and ensure that every citizen is afforded due process.

In her meeting with Fahmy, Rice also underscored U.S. commitment to maintain cooperation with Egypt on shared security issues such as countering extremism and maintaining regional stability, according to a statement issued by the White House.

The United States values its relationship with the Egyptian people and will continue to support a transition to democracy that respects their rights, and enables the stability and success of the Egyptian government, according to the statement.

Washington has partially lifted its freeze on assistance to Egypt, enacted after Morsi’s removal, with plans to deliver 10 Apache helicopters and some 650 million U.S. dollars in military aid this year.

Source: Xinhua