Hagel calls Egyptian defence minister on Coptic Christians

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Press Trust of India Washington
Last Updated : Sep 18 2013 | 6:25 AM IST
US Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel has called his Egyptian counterpart Gen Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi, on Coptic Christians who have been impacted by recent violence in the Arab country.
"Al-Sisi and Hagel discussed Egyptian efforts to secure and rebuild Coptic Christian communities impacted by violence and to maintain security on the Sinai Peninsula," the Pentagon Press Secretary, George Little, said yesterday.
"Hagel urged Al-Sisi to continue to take steps to demonstrate the interim government's commitment to advance the political roadmap," Little said after the telephonic conversation between the two leaders.
Meanwhile, the State Department opposed the arrest of spokesperson of Muslim brotherhood and called on the Egyptian government to move forward on an inclusive process that brings representatives from all sides into the process.
"As we have consistently said, we are opposed to all politicised arrests, of course, including this one and detention, and remain focused on encouraging the interim government to move forward on an inclusive process that brings representatives from all sides into the process," the State Department spokesperson, Jen Psaki, told reporters at her daily news conference.
"The Egyptian government has a responsibility to protect all Egyptians and create an atmosphere that supports a process of political transition that is inclusive and has maximum participation from the Egyptian people.So our position has been consistently the same," she added.

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First Published: Sep 18 2013 | 6:25 AM IST

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