Morsi urges Muslims not to attackt Cairo embassies

CAIRO

Protesters tries to stop clashes between other protesters and the police form a line during a demonstration, condemning a US-made film near the US embassy in Cairo. REUTERS photo

Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi urged Muslims to protect embassies by saying “It is required by our religion to protect our guests and their homes and places of work,” ahead of the clashes that sparked over anti-Muslim video.

Ahead of the clashes, Morsi spoke for more than seven minutes on state TV, his most direct public move to contain protests since an angry crowd assaulted the embassy Sept. 11 night, scaling its walls and tearing down the American flag. “It is required by our religion to protect our guests and their homes and places of work. So I call on all to consider this, consider the law, and not attack embassies, consulates, diplomatic missions or Egyptian property that is private or public,” the Associated Press quoted Morsi as saying.

Morsi condemned a film as an “aggression” on Islam that distracts from the real problems of the Middle East, Agence France-Presse reported. “We cannot accept this type of aggression and attempt to sow discord. These irresponsible actions yield no good and draw attention away from real problems like the conflict in Syria, the fate of the Palestinians and the lack of stability in the Middle East,” Morsi said.
As Morsi spoke, several hundred protesters massed in Cairo’s Tahrir Square after weekly Muslim Friday prayers and tore up an American flag, waving a black, Islamist flag. When protesters tried to move toward the embassy, several blocks away, they were confronted by lines of police who fired tear gas.