Egypt: EU envoy meets with Mohamed Morsi, seeks end to violence

CAIRO -- European Union envoy Catherine Ashton told reporters Tuesday that she met with deposed President Mohamed Morsi as part of a diplomatic effort to end a month of bloodshed and political unrest that have shaken Egypt.

Ashton held talks with members of the new military-backed government and with representatives of Morsi’s Muslim Brotherhood party. It was unclear how much Ashton’s two-day visit may have nudged the country’s political players toward a compromise to stem violence that has killed more than 250 people.

The envoy said she visited Morsi, who was overthrown in a July 3 coup, on Monday at an undisclosed military location. She said he was in good health and they had a “friendly and open and very frank discussion for two hours.... I tried to make sure that his family knows that he is well.”

Ashton was the first foreign diplomat to have met with Morsi since his ouster. Prosecutors last week announced that the former president in under investigation for alleged espionage and murder charges for his escape from prison during the 2011 uprising that overthrew longtime autocrat Hosni Mubarak.

The charges, widely regarded as politically motivated, have inflamed Morsi’s Islamist supporters. Thousands of Muslim Brotherhood followers have refused to end a monthlong sit-in at a Cairo mosque until Morsi is reinstated. Police and armed civilians killed at least 80 Islamist protesters on Saturday during a march from the mosque toward one of the city’s main bridges.

Gen. Abdel Fattah Sisi, commander of the armed forces, has vowed to disperse the protest soon, which would likely lead to renewed violence. Ashton said in her discussions with Sisi and others she stressed finding “a calm resolution to the situation on the ground.”

She added: “We have made it clear that there is no place for violence in this, and that peaceful demonstration is important but also ensuring that it is done in a proper way and that the authorities have a huge responsibility to make sure that happens.”

Ahram Online, the website for Egypt’s largest state newspaper, reported the meeting between Ashton and Sisi this way: “Informed sources (said) that Ashton’s message to Morsi and his fellow Muslim Brothers would be one of ‘concession.’”

ALSO:

Israel and Palestinians begin new round of talks

Pope Francis comments on gays stir debate among Catholics

In Mexico, suspects in naval officer shooting acknowledge cartel ties

jeffrey.fleishman@latimes.com