US and EU express growing concern over Egypt’s political stalemate

Both the US and the European Union said on Wednesday that they remain concerned over Egypt’s lack of political stability. "While further violent confrontations have thus far been avoided, we remain concerned and troubled that government and opposition leaders have not yet found a way to break a dangerous stalemate and agree to implement tangible confidence building measures," US Secretary of State John Kerry and EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton said in a joint statement. Those comments came on the heels of the apparent failure of US and EU envoys in Cairo to facilitate the political crisis, which has led to bloodshed since Egypt’s armed forces ousted President Morsi and essentially removed the Muslim Brotherhood from all positions of political influence. Qatar and the United Arab Emirates have also sent representatives to the Egyptian capital, aiming to reach some form of settlement. All parties are said to have been working intensively to bring both the armed forces and the political opposition together. The death toll spiked upwards on July 27, when Egyptian security forces fired live ammunition at supporters of deposed President Morsi, killing 80 people. Diplomats have urged the military to release imprisoned Islamist leaders, including Mr. Morsi, who has been held without charge since his removal from office.