CAIRO
Egyptian Foreign Minister Nabil Fahmi on Sunday rejected Qatari comments on developments in Egypt.
"The Foreign Ministry of a foreign country should not tackle internal conditions in another country," Fahmi said.
"The Qatari position is totally rejected and no country is allowed to interfere in the affairs of another state," Fahim said ahead of his departure to Algeria for a two-day visit.
The Qatari Foreign Ministry on Friday expressed concern over a rise in the number of victims from "protest suppression" in Egypt, outlining the need for dialogue among the country's political rivals.
It said what happens in Egypt gives proof after proof that security solutions will not lead to stability.
Apparently referring to a recent decision by the Egyptian government to designate the Muslim Brotherhood, the movement from which ousted president Mohamed Morsi hails, a "terrorist" movement, the Qatari ministry said this decision would not stop "peaceful" protests.
It said this decision is only a prelude to intensifying the shoot-to-kill policy on demonstrators.
Fahmi said that the phrasing of the Qatari statement "reflects abnormal intentions".
On Saturday, the Egyptian Foreign Ministry summoned Qatar's ambassador Saif bin Moqadam al-Boenain to officially protest against Qatar's “interference in Egypt's internal affairs.
An Egyptian Foreign Ministry statement said the ministry had notified the Qatari diplomat that Cairo had already grown “impatient of Qatari policies."
Fahmi said that there was a desire on the part of several Arab countries for giving the new leadership in Qatar the chance to make a "change of course".
"We bowed to this desire although we don't see any clear indications for any change."
He went on to say that Egypt always seeks to have good relations with all Arab countries, provided that no country harms "Egyptian interests or dignity.
"The Qatari statement, however, gave us a negative response," Fahmi said.
By Mahmoud al-Husseini
englishnews@aa.com.tr
