CAIRO
The Egyptian Presidency criticized US President Barak Obama's recent remarks on Egypt, saying such statements incite violence.
In a statement in the early hours of Friday, the Presidency said Egypt was facing "terrorist actions" targeting government institutions and vital installations, including tens of churches, courts and police stations.
Earlier Thursday, Obama said his administration "strongly condemns" the violence in Egypt and cancelled US-Egyptian military exercises in protest.
"But while we want to sustain our relationship with Egypt, our traditional cooperation cannot continue as usual when civilians are being killed in the streets and rights are being rolled back."
Security troops forcibly dispersed the two major protest camps for pro-Morsi protesters in Rabaa and Nahda on Wednesday.
The Health Ministry said at least 578 people had been killed in the ensuing violence, including 228 people in Rabaa and 90 people in Nahda.
But the National Alliance for the Defense of Legitimacy, a coalition of pro-Morsi Islamist parties and figures, has put the number of deaths from the dispersal of the Rabaa sit-in alone at some 2,600.
The Egyptian Presidency underlined that, while regretting the fall of victims, it "reaffirmed its full responsibility to protect the country and its citizens."
"The Presidency fears that statements not based on facts strengthen militant groups and encourage its hostility towards stability and democratic transformation."
englishnews@aa.com.tr
