Kerry urges Egypt to hold elections

US Secretary of State John Kerry today urged Egypt's military to allow elections and for all sides to avoid further violence.
Denouncing the crackdown on supporters of ousted president Mohamed Morsi, Kerry urged a "peaceful, democratic way forward."
"Today's events are deplorable and they run counter to Egyptian aspirations for peace, inclusion and genuine democracy," Kerry told reporters.
"The interim government and the military -- which together possess the preponderance of power in this confrontation -- have a unique responsibility to prevent further violence and to offer constructive options for an inclusive peaceful process across the political spectrum," Kerry said.

"This includes amending the constitution and holding parliamentary and presidential elections, which the interim government itself has called for," he said.
"All parties also share a responsibility to avoid violence and to participate in a productive path towards a political solution," he said, pointing to the opposition.

Kerry said that a political solution was the only option but acknowledged: "It has been made much, much harder and much, much more complicated by the events of today."
More than 120 people were killed when security forces broke up gatherings by supporters of Morsi, according to an AFP correspondent who visited makeshift morgues.

Kerry had previously praised the role of the military and said it was trying to restore democracy by ousting the democratically elected Morsi.