Turkey monitoring situation in Egypt with deep concern: statement

ANKARA, July 4 (Xinhua) -- Turkey is following with deep concern the latest developments in Egypt after the ouster of embattled President Mohamed Morsi on Wednesday, the Turkish Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Thursday.

"Following the removal from office yesterday of Morsi by the Egyptian Armed Forces and the suspension of the constitution, the situation in Egypt has reached an extremely sensitive and alarming stage," the statement said.

Morsi was ousted by the military on Wednesday evening after he failed to respond to millions of protesters who took to the streets to demand his removal and an early presidential election.

"As previously stated, we believe it is imperative that the current crisis must be overcome through a societal consensus to be achieved through an approach and dialogue that embraces and takes into account the concerns and views of all segments of society," said the Turkish Foreign Ministry, which expects all due respect to be extended to Morsi considering the position he had assumed, in the new period in Egypt.

"We call upon all parties to act with common sense and restraint for the process of democratization ... to respect the rule of law and to re-establish the democratic order by holding free and fair elections as soon as possible," it said.

"As always, Turkey will continue to stand by the people of its friend and brother Egypt and to support its political stability, unity and solidarity and economic prosperity," said the statement.

On Thursday, Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu described the ousting of Morsi as "unacceptable," branding the intervention of army as a "military coup," in contrast to the U.S. and some European countries' expression, which refrained from using the word "coup."

"A leader who came [to power] with the support of the people can only be removed through elections. It is unacceptable for democratically elected leaders, for whatever reason, to be toppled through illegal means, even a coup," said Davutoglu.

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan also held on Thursday a three-hour-long extraordinary meeting at his Istanbul office to assess the latest developments in Egypt, but no official statement was made.

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