Egypt shows concern, Iran leader blames Zionism for Ferguson protests

Ties between Washington and Cairo strained over Egyptian human rights violations, army ouster of democratically elected president Mohamed Morsi.

By ARIEL BEN SOLOMON
US protests over police shooting of unarmed black teen (photo credit: REUTERS)
US protests over police shooting of unarmed black teen
(photo credit: REUTERS)
Egypt on Tuesday urged US authorities to exercise restraint in dealing with racially charged demonstrations in Ferguson, Missouri - echoing language Washington used to caution Egypt as it cracked down on Islamist protesters last year.
Ties between Washington and Cairo were strained after Egyptian security forces killed hundreds of Muslim Brotherhood supporters following the army's ousting elected president Mohamed Morsi in July 2013.
The Egyptian Foreign Ministry's statement on the unrest in Ferguson read similarly to one issued by U.S. President Barack Obama's administration in July 2013, when the White House "urged security forces to exercise maximum restraint and caution" in dealing with demonstrations by Morsi supporters.
The ministry added it was "closely following the escalation of protests" in Ferguson, unleashed by the fatal shooting of an unarmed black teenager by a white policeman on August 9.
Meanwhile, Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei went on a tweet spree seeking to link the Ferguson protests to Israel. Khamenei re-tweeted on Tuesday a past statement from last year in relation to the US riots.

“US govt is #unreliable& egotistical; due to Zionist domination over it, US prefers #Israel’s interests 2 that of its nation.10/5/13 #Ferguson,” it said.
On Monday, he tweeted: “The day when American nation realize their socioeconomic problems stem from domination of #Israel over their govt, what’ll happen? #Ferguson.”
Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Majid Takht-Ravanchi accused the US of “racist” behavior and “oppression” of Ferguson protesters.
"Racism is an ominous phenomenon and it is awkward and unpleasant to be obliged to still speak about it in the 21st century; yet unfortunately, we are still witnessing the phenomenon of racism in the western societies and it is regrettable that those who claim to be advocates of human rights are pursuing such an approach," said Takht-Ravanchi in Tehran on Monday, Iran’s Fars News Agency reported.