CAIRO: Various Egyptian presidential candidates have offered their opinions on last night's deadly clashes in downtown Cairo. Amr Moussa said he followed the deadly clashes in downtown Cairo last night with anger and frustration. He said these incidents will lead to instability and deepen Egypt's problems. He added that the incident may distort Egypt's image abroad, referencing supposed statements by U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton that Coptic Christians in Egypt are minority and should be protected. It was later discovered Clinton had not many any statement about the incidents. During a phone call to evening talk show Cairo Today, Moussa said Copts are not a minority but a part of Egypt country, and their problems should be solved. He said Egyptians should not wait for solutions to come from abroad. He added that last night's incidents were a clear distortion of the Egyptian society. Moussa, formerly Secretary General of the Arab League and considered a frontrunner for the Egyptian presidency, also suggested holding a meeting among all political forces that does not aim to attack Egypt's ruling military council or the government but to discuss the crisis and find a solution as soon as possible. Coptic Christians comprise about 10 percent of Egypt's population. Hamdeen Sabbahi, leader of al-Karama Party, called on all Egyptians to rationalize and choose their actions carefully to maintain Egyptian security. He refused all types of violence through a post on Twitter. His supporters, a group called ‘Sabbahi is Egypt's next president,' released a statement titled, ‘No Sectarian Violence, No Violence.' The campaign said the slow process of prosecuting former officials caused an increase in anger among the people. Islamic candidate Abdel Moneim Aboul Fotouh said the incidents outside Maspiro, the Egyptian television and radio headquarters, came from foreign and Zionist aims to rouse sectarian violence in Egypt. He said the main goal of the Egyptian army is to achieve the goals of the January 25 Revolution that toppled the country's former regime from power earlier this year. “Coptics chose the wrong time and place,” he said in his phone call to evening talk shop 10pm. He called on Egypt's public prosecution and security forces to rigidly apply all laws to all people and not to ignore things that make divides and arouse problems. He also warned of a foreign intrusion, which he called a ‘red line' that shouldn't be crossed. He called to end the violence that led to many deaths yesterday and said all Egyptians should unify to end the threat to Egypt's national security. Abdallah al-Ashaal, former Assistant of Foreign Minister and potential presidential candidate, said Maspiro's incidents are a serious repercussion of the “loose authority.” He said sectarian violence between Muslims and Christians was one of the former Egyptian regime's tools in cooperation with Israel, which has a history of accidents that Israeli intelligence agency Mosaad has admitted to having a hand in. He said Israel aimed to underestimate the Egyptian army and beat it from inside. He said that using weapons to carry out this violent incident intends to burn Egypt by the hands of its Muslims and Christians, which will lead Christians to demand foreign protection. He addressed a message to the ruling military council calling to revise the council's policy record and to overcome this “frightening” situation before Egypt slips into sectarian violence. Mohamed Selim al-Awa said there are hidden hands both inside and outside that want to undermine the nation. He also referenced Clinton's supposed statement, saying it showed that there are those who want the rhythm of sectarian violence above all. He called on all Egyptians to leave protests to allow the army to break up demonstrations. In related news, many presidential candidates, politicians, coalitions and movements will hold a meeting today at El-Sawy Culture Wheel to discuss the reasons behind the Maspiro incidents and determine how to safely move forward, especially after the increase in the numbers of victims. Moussa, Fotouh, and al-Awa are expected to attend the meeting, among others. Prominent activists George Ishak and Ahmed Kamal Abu el-Maged are also expected to attend.
