Mubarak calls on Egyptians to support MursiMarch 12, 2013 - 09:22 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Former Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak called on his country’s citizens to support current leader Mohammed Mursi in order to end the violent protests that have plagued the country, The Times of Israel reported. Mubarak’s lawyer, Farid el-Deeb, said that the deposed leader is “sad and frustrated” by the protests, which have left dozens dead and hundreds injured since the Islamist Mursi assumed power in June 2012. Deeb said that while Mubarak supports the right of Egyptians to demonstrate peacefully, he denounced the violent protests that have been particularly prevalent in the capital city of Cairo and the coastal city of Port Said. Mubarak, 84, was the president of Egypt for 30 years until he was ousted in February 2011 by popular protests. Mursi was elected in his stead, in Egypt’s first-ever democratic vote last year. In 2012, Mubarak was convicted by an Egyptian court for his role in the deaths of some 850 protesters killed during the 18-day uprising that removed him from office. The verdict was overturned in January 2013, and a new trial is set to begin in April. Before his reign ended, Mubarak had jailed Mursi, a leader of the once-outlawed fundamentalist group, the Muslim Brotherhood. Nevertheless, Mubarak told Deeb that the current leader is the “elected president… people should rally around him” in order to bring an end to the violence. Top stories Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads. Partner news | Government reveals details from Pashinyan’s meeting in border village Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has met with a group of residents of a border village in Armenia’s northern Tavush province Narek Manasyan wins European Boxing Championships silver for Armenia Armenia’s Narek Manasyan (92kg) won Armenia’s second silver medal at the European Boxing Championships 2024 on April 28. Blinken urges Azerbaijan to continue negotiations with Armenia Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken has urged Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev to continue negotiations with Armenia. Pashinyan, Blinken talk Armenia-U.S. ties over the phone Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan had a phone conversation with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on April 28, Pashinyan’s office reports. |