The Arab League expressed "deep grief" for the loss of lives of civilians and security forces and said it is "completely ready" to provide anything needed by Egypt during the "difficult circumstances." The Arab League's statement, issued on Thursday, said the Egyptian government carried out the dispersals to maintain national security and stability, calling on all groups in Egypt to participate in peaceful dialogue in order to achieve national reconciliation. The Arab League also advocated a short transitional period and for Egypt to remain committed to its roadmap at the end of which would come parliamentary and presidential elections. The United Arab Emirates reaffirmed its "understanding of the sovereign measures taken by the Egyptian government after having exercised maximum self-control," in a statement issued by its foreign ministry on Thursday. "What is regretful is that political extremist groups have insisted on the rhetoric of violence, incitement, disruption of public interests and undermining of the Egyptian economy, which has led to the regretful events today," said the UAE foreign ministry. Bahrain echoed the UAE's sentiments, saying the government had worked to regain the country's stability, calling for dialogue and national reconciliation. Prime Minister of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan was critical of the Egyptian government, condemning security forces' "bloody intervention." "We strongly condemn that the Egyptian administration has once again resorted to violence against peaceful demonstrations despite all warnings," said Erdogan in his release. "The incumbent administration which intervened in the democratic and civilian regime through a coup d'etat is responsible for the loss of lives of the brotherly Egyptian people since the 30th of June," he added, calling the latest developments a "great blow to hopes for Egypt to return to democracy through an inclusive transition process." Erdogan criticised the international response to the change in power that occurred on 3 July, saying he had talks with members of the UN Security council "calling upon them to start a democratic process in Egypt and to stand together against a possible massacre." Ecuador announced the recalling of its ambassador in Egypt citing its democratic values, as its foreign ministry said in a statement that the Egyptian people had democratically chosen Mohamed Morsi as its leader, adding that his removal had come with repression from the interim government. The foreign ministries of Great Britain, France, Spain, and Germany summoned the Egyptian ambassadors in their respective countries following Wednesday's violent outbreak. German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle expressed "concern" over the escalation of violence, calling on all political forces to "return to dialogue" to avoid any further escalation. British Foreign Secretary William Hague condemned the use of force to disperse protests and called on all leaders in Egypt to work to reduce the risk of further violence. Development minister of Denmark Christian Friis Bach told Berlingske newspaper that his country would suspend development aid to Egypt, saying that the new measures would apply to two projects in collaboration with the government of Egypt and public institutions, also calling on the European Union to revisit aid pledged to the Egyptian government. EU foreign affairs head Catherine Ashton urged the Egyptian government to end the state of emergency it declared on Wednesday, condemning the violence that occurred in Egypt, including attacks on churches. US Secretary of State John Kerry called on the Egyptian military to allow for elections to stabilise the country. Kerry called Wednesday's events "deplorable," staying the US "strongly opposed" a return to a state of emergency law. "All of the opposition all of civil society, all parties also share a responsibility to avoid violence and to participate in a productive path towards a political solution," said Kerry. Principal Deputy Press Secretary to the White House Josh Earnest said the US government had "repeatedly called on the Egyptian military and security forces to show restraint," adding that violence would only hinder the path to "lasting stability and democracy."
