Egypt's Morsi cuts ties with Syria

CAIRO - Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi on Saturday announced cutting ties with Syria, shutting down the Syrian embassy in Cairo and withdrawing the Egyptian charge d' affaires from Damascus, at a popular conference aired on state TV.

Morsi also warned Lebanon's militant group Hezbollah against continuous involvement in the conflict in Syria.

"Hezbollah must leave Syria," Morsi warned, "We reject any military or political interference in Syria whether by states or militants."

The Egyptian president added that the country's leadership, people and army are in support of the Syrian people, yet he stressed non-interference in the Syrian domestic affairs.

He called on the international community not to allow the " reproduction of repressive regimes," urging a UN Security Council resolution for imposing a no-fly zone on Syria.

"There is no place for the current Syrian regime in the future of Syria," Morsi reiterated while addressing the popular conference in support of Syrian "revolution", held at Cairo Stadium by Islamists.

Morsi also urged Arab and Islamic states for an emergency summit to discuss the latest developments in the Syrian conflict.

The Egyptian Islamist-oriented president deplored that the Syrian conflict killed over 90,000 citizens, injured hundreds of thousands and displaced millions, citing a UN report.

He slammed "regional and international powers" for their military support of the Syrian government that led to the continued bloodshed in the country.

Moving to internal affairs, Morsi criticized the intended anti- president protests on June 30 urged by activists and opposition who call for ousting Morsi and holding an early presidential election.

He said such protests "seek to ruin the state without knowing how to rebuild it afterwards," insisting they are urged mostly by "residuals of the ex-regime."

Morsi called such acts, ruining Egypt through such protests, as "illusions," yet he stressed respect for the right of peaceful protests without riot, damage or weapons.

"We should rather save our energy for work and production," Morsi added, warning against acts of violence during such protests and calling on the opposition to unite with the leadership to meet the challenges of the country.