Egypt summons Iran's top diplomat in Cairo, condemning remarks about violent protests
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Egypt's Foreign Ministry has summoned Iran's top diplomat in the country to express its "total condemnation" of comments he and other Iranian officials made recently about the surge of violence here.
The ministry said in a statement Monday the recent Iranian statements are "rejected" and reflect a "lack of knowledge or intentional overlooking" of facts. An Iranian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman had expressed her country's concern Saturday about the rise in violence in Egypt during protests, urging the government and supporters of ousted Islamist President Mohammed Morsi to maintain peace and seek dialogue.
Egypt also has summoned Qatar's top diplomat in Cairo for similar statements.
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Egypt and Iran severed ties after Iran's 1979 Islamic Revolution. Iran operates an interest section in Cairo under a charge d'affaires without an ambassador.