African Union panel in Egypt to take stock of crisis
July 28, 2013, 6:12 pm

Egypt’s interim President Adli Mansour has issued a decree on Sunday that authorizes Prime Minister Hazem el-Beblawi with emergency powers, state-run Nile news TV has reported [Xinhua Images]

The African Union, earlier in July, suspended Egypt from all union activities for disruption of “constitutional order”.

The AU panel’s Egypt visit is a follow-up to the communique of the AU Peace and Security Council (PSC) of July 5.

The purpose of this first visit is “to gather information and consult with the Egyptian authorities and other stakeholders on the prevailing situation in the country”, said an AU statement.

Egypt’s interim President Adli Mansour has issued a decree on Sunday that authorizes Prime Minister Hazem el-Beblawi with emergency powers, state-run Nile news TV has reported.

Egypt’s Health Ministry said 72 people have died during the violence during the weekend that saw anti and pro-Morsi supporters stage demonstrations in different parts of Egypt.

Earlier, on 8 July, more than 50 Muslim Brotherhood supporters died when security forces opened fire on them.

The AU panel will also interact with the secretary-general and other senior officials of the Arab League states, said the statement.

The AU panel to Cairo is chaired by former president Alpha Omar Konare of Mali and comprises former president Festus Mogae of Botswana and former Djibouti prime minister Dileita Mohamed Dileita.

The Commission will on its return report its findings to AU chair Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma.

Meanwhile, the UN Human Rights High Commissioner, Navi Pillay said on Sunday that the supporters of the ousted Muslim Brotherhood have the right to peaceful protest.

“Despite all the warnings, all the calls for restraint, more than 150 Egyptians have died during protests over the past month, not just in Cairo but in other cities as well,” she said.

“I fear for the future of Egypt if the military and other security forces, as well as some demonstrators, continue to take such a confrontational and aggressive approach. Supporters of the Muslim Brotherhood have the right to protest peacefully like anyone else,” she added.

Source: Agencies