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Jordan PM Urges Egypt Army to Remain 'Firm'

Jordanian Prime Minister Abdullah Nsur on Monday urged Egypt's military to remain "firm" despite condemnation of a crackdown on Islamist protesters, saying the fate of the country was at stake.

"Jordan's position towards what is happening in Egypt seeks to support the state. The Egyptian state must not melt or erode or turn into a failed country," Nsur told a news conference.

"If the Egyptian army goes, Egypt goes. The army must remain firm and strong."

On Friday, Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh said Jordan backed Egypt's efforts "to combat terrorism and attempts to meddle in its affairs," while calling for Arab and Islamic support.

Nsur's remarks came after militants killed 25 Egyptian policemen in the Sinai Peninsula in the deadliest attack of its kind in years.

Egypt is struggling to put a lid on a deep political crisis and violence that has killed almost 800 people in several days of clashes between Islamist protesters and security forces across the country.

The bloodshed in the Arab world's most populous country follows a popularly backed military coup that toppled Islamist president Mohammed Morsi on July 3.

Source: Agence France Presse


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