Global condemnation of Egypt crackdown

The Egyptian army's crackdown on protesters, during which at least 278 people were reportedly killed, has been subject to a strong international condemnation.

US Secretary of State John Kerry said the "deplorable" events were "a real blow to reconciliation efforts".

EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton and UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon also criticised the use of force.

Yesterday, the Maltese government has expressed its sorrow over those injured and killed and condemned the violence. It also said the government had always supported peaceful protests, used as a democratic weapon in full respect of national security.

"It is disappointing that diplomatic interventions seeking a peaceful solution did not leave the desired results," the foreign affairs ministry said in a statement issued on Wednesday evening.

The Maltese government urged against the use of excessive force.

A state of emergency was declared and curfews imposed after protest camps were cleared in the capital Cairo.

The demonstrators had been demanding the reinstatement of President Mohammed Morsi who was ousted by the military on 3 July.

The Muslim Brotherhood, which backed the protests, said more than 2,000 people died when security forces moved in to clear the two camps - in Nahda Square and near the Rabaa al-Adawiya mosque.

The interim government said 235 civilians had been killed nationwide, as well as 43 police officers. The figures cannot be independently verified.

Egypt's army-backed interim prime minister has defended the government's decision to order the crushing of camps of supporters of deposed President Mohamed Morsi, saying the authorities had no choice but to act.

In a televised statement late on Wednesday, Hazem el-Beblawi said the decision to break up the protests "was not easy" and came only after the government had given mediation efforts a chance.
We found that matters had reached a point that no self respecting state could accept," he said, citing what he described as "the spread of anarchy and attacks on hospitals and police stations".

The streets of Egypt's second city Alexandria were almost deserted on Wednesday night as security forces enforced a curfew.

The government imposed a month-long state of emergency after riot police backed by armoured vehicles, bulldozers and helicopters swept away two encampments of pro-Morsi supporters, setting off running street battles in Cairo and other Egyptian cities.

Security forces shot dead scores of people in their assault on the camps, defying international pleas to show restraint after a six-week stand-off with Morsi's Muslim Brotherhood supporters.

Vice-President Mohamed ElBaradei resigned saying peaceful means could still have been found to end the confrontation, but other members of the government have rallied behind the decision to use force.

Beblawi said the state of emergency would be for the shortest period possible, adding that the government was committed to an army-backed road map to restore democracy.

The measure, scheduled to last for a month, imposes a curfew in Cairo and several other provinces between 19:00 local time (17:00 GMT) and 06:00.

"There was a need for the state to intervene with an extraordinary measure which is the emergency law. God willing, we will continue. We will build our democratic, civilian state," he said.