CAIRO, Aug. 18 (Xinhua) -- As Egypt's political crisis deepens, some analysts warn that the country is gradually stepping toward " international interference," which could have dangerous repercussions.
On Thursday, the UN Security Council held an emergency meeting on Egypt, calling for an end to violence and for national reconciliation. This move was described as the first step toward " internationalizing" the Egyptian crisis, said strategic professor Nabil Fouad.
Whether the crisis will be internationalized depends on "the Egyptian interim government and its readiness to placate the situation or to continue strict plans," said Fouad, who is a former general in the army.
Fouad told Xinhua that if the Egyptian government chooses to deal with the situation in strict approaches, it will lead to escalation at the international level.
"The international demands for solving the political crisis through reconciliation should be respected and considered," Fouad urged.
More than 700 people were killed in Egypt since Wednesday, when security forces dispersed supporters of ousted president Mohamed Morsi in two major sit-ins.
On Sunday, European Union leaders Herman Van Rompuy and Jose Manuel Barroso warned Egypt's army and interim government that the bloc would review its ties with the country unless the violence ends.
Further escalation could have "unpredictable consequences" for Egypt and its neighbours, the presidents of the European Council and European Commission said.
So far, Turkey, Venezuela, Mauritius and Ecuador have decided to withdraw their ambassadors in Egypt, while France, Britain, Germany, Italy and Tunisia have recalled ambassadors for consultations over current situation in Egypt.
Fouad, the professor, believed international interference will expose Egypt to more "punishments" and aid shut-off, which would further devastate its ailing economy.
As the Muslim Brotherhood's (MB) continuous marches in the streets keep attracting international attention, Fouad noted that "internationalizing the crisis" will bring few political benefits for the group.
The way to settle the national crisis peacefully requires efforts and concessions from both sides: the MB, from which Morsi hails; and the interim government, along with other political forces.
Salah Salem, political professor at the Cairo University, said that possibilities of international meddling will increase after the United Nations termed what happened in Egypt as "massacre without justifications."
He estimated foreign political and economic pressures would become more intensive over the Egyptian government.
Ahmed Al-Naqr, political expert, however, ruled out that Egypt would fall under the control or protection of many nations, expecting the political stalemate in Egypt to end swiftly.
"It is an internal affair, which does not threat international security and does not require internationalization in the UN Security Council," said Naqr.
There was no UN statement or resolution until Sunday, which he considered as an "evidence" that the United States, Turkey and other Western countries had failed to internationalize the Egyptian crisis, he noted.
International pressures would not lead to tangible results in Egypt, Naqr said. "The crisis should be settled by all sides themselves."
by Marwa Yahya
