Egypt has hit back at fresh criticisms by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of the incumbent regime that ousted his ally Mohamed Morsy from presidency in 2013.
In a statement on Monday, Egypt’s Foreign Ministry said Erdogan has “continued lies about the situation in Egypt,” condemning his “disregard of Egyptians’ will that materialized in a popular revolution and presidential elections.”
In a conference with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin on Monday, Erdogan said that incumbent president Abdel Fattah al-Sisi assumed power “illegitimately,” while “the elected Egyptian president (Mohamed Morsy) lies in prison.”
“Even if you consider him legitimate, we will not consider him legitimate,” Erdogan repeated in Istanbul’, Erdogan had been quoted as saying in an earlier conference on 24 November.
The ministry argued Erdogan’s “reckless” statements reflected “ignorance of facts and insistence on living in illusions.”
Erdogan has repeatedly reiterated his unrecognition of the authorities that ousted Morsy last year, which prompted Cairo to severe diplomatic ties with Ankara.
