(France24) France's foreign minister called on Egypt Tuesday to release political prisoners, including deposed leader Mohammed Morsi, hours after EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton became the first international official to meet Morsi since his ouster.
French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said on Tuesday that Egypt's deposed leader, Mohammed Morsi, should be released, calling the country's political situation "very critical."
"France calls for the rejection of violence and for the release of political prisoners, including former president Morsi," Fabius told journalists in Paris.
Earlier, EU foreign policy head Catherine Ashton met with ousted Egyptian president Mohammed Morsi as his supporters began rallying for a “million person march” in Cairo.
It was the first time an outsider was given access to Morsi since the army overthrew him and jailed him a month ago. Ashton said she’d found him in good health.
In Egypt to discuss the political stand-off, Ashton said she would not divulge any of the details of her conversation with Morsi, explaining that she did not want to put words in the ousted leader’s mouth knowing that he was not in a position to correct her.
She did say, however, that Morsi was well and was informed about the current situation in Egypt, having access to the news. She also described their conversation as “warm”.
Ashton went on to stress the importance of Egypt overcoming its political crisis on its own to build the foundations of a strong democracy. “I've urged everyone to think very carefully about how to include everyone in the process – because it’s of enormous importance,” she said.
“This is for the people of Egypt to work through,” Ashton added. “It really matters that there is a strong future for the country, politically and economically, and that's what needs to happen.”
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