Egypt's top Muslim cleric is warning of civil war and says he will go into seclusion at his home until the bloodshed ends as a show of protest.
Sheik Ahmed el-Tayeb also called for the transitional period that began following last week's ouster of the president to be limited to six months.
In a statement he says he will go into seclusion until “everyone shoulders his responsibility to stop the bloodshed, instead of dragging the country into civil war.”
El-Tayeb is the grand imam of the Al-Azhar Mosque, the world's primary seat of learning for Sunni Muslims, the vast majority of the world's Muslims.
El-Tayeb's Monday statement came hours after clashes between security forces and supporters of the ousted president Mohammed Morsi left at least 42 killed.
Govts condemn shootings
Governments have reacted strongly to the clashes between Egyptian troops and supporters of the ousted president Mohammed Morsi that have left at least 40 people dead.
TURKEY: Turkey’s Islamic-rooted Government, which had formed an alliance with the ousted Islamist leader and has criticised his overthrow, was quick to condemn the killings. Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu tweeted: “I strongly condemn the massacre that took place at morning prayers in the name of basic human values.”
BRITAIN: Britain called for movement toward free and fair elections and agreement on a democratic constitution, and called on Egyptian authorities to carry out an investigation into the events that led to the deaths. “There is an urgent need for calm and restraint,” said Foreign Secretary William Hague.
PAlESTINIANS: The Hamas militant group condemned the killings and expressed “extreme pain and grief for the falling of these victims,” but stopped short of taking sides in the unfolding crisis in its neighbor. While identifying ideologically with Morsi, Hamas also maintains ties with Egyptian security forces that patrol the border with Gaza.
QATAR: The wealthy Gulf nation, a main backer of Morsi's government, expressed “great concern” over the deadly clashes and urged authorities to guarantee the “rights and protections” for all groups to express their views.
GERMANY: The German Foreign Ministry said it was “dismayed” over reports of violence and called for a “speedy clarification” by an independent body into the events surrounding the latest killings.