Egypt's interim PM recognises atrocities were committed

Egypt’s interim Prime Minister Hazem al-Beblawi has admitted that the country’s army and security services committed “atrocities” against anti-coup protesters in Rabaa Al-Adawiya and Al-Nahda Squares in Cairo two weeks ago.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with ABC’s global affairs correspondent Martha Raddatz, he said he knew that the approval of the plan to disperse the protests camps could lead to much bloodshed. He frankly said that was needed.

Raddatz said that he acknowledged that the approval of the crackdown could cause much bloodshed. She added: “That’s exactly what worries America in a country and ally that has been vital to the stability of this region [Middle East].”

Al-Beblawi compared the killing of thousands of anti-coup protesters in Egypt with the US involvement in the World War II and the war in Vietnam.

World War II and the American war in Vietnam led to millions of causalities. Raddatz was astonished of this comparison. “Really, a stunning comparison,” she said.

Justifying the killing in Egypt, the Prime Minister said: “There are exceptional times when atrocities are committed, but this does not mean this a way of life.” In this context, he told the correspondent: “your people went to the World War II.”

After all of this, Raddatz said that Al-Beblawi told her that he “has no remorse” for what has happened in Egypt.