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Qatari and Saudi officials say release of prisoners might solve Egyptian deadlock

February 13, 2014 at 1:00 am

Qatari Foreign Minister, Khalid al-Atiyya, called for the release of all political prisoners in Egypt to facilitate a solution to the current political crisis.


In a meeting broadcast on Al-jazeera after his return to Doha, Al-Atiyya said that the release of the political prisoners was necessary because they are the key to any solution. He also called for the beginning of a comprehensive dialogue between all parties, focusing on “the political prisoners.”

While speaking about the release of the political prisoners, Al-Atiyya noted that the removed president Mohammed Morsi and other Muslim Brotherhood leaders, were being investigated on different charges, including incitement of killing and fleeing prisons in January 2011.

Al-Atiyya reiterated that his visit to Cairo was exploratory and that he had not been allowed to visit all sides. What is needed in Egypt now is an agreement that will be accepted by all sides and should be reached through Egyptian national dialogue.

The Qatari official was the only one of the Arab and international delegation that visited the deputy Muslim Brotherhood Supreme Guide Khairat al-Shater inside prison.

The delegation met officials from the interim government trying to find a solution for the current deadlock started by Morsi’s removal last month.

Al-Atiyya affirmed that the Qatari aid to Egypt is going to continue as it is not offered to the regime, but to the people.

Meanwhile, a Saudi member of the Shura Council called for the return of the removed president Mohamed Morsi, at least symbolically. He said that might lead to reconciling the conflict. The positions of the Saudi and Qatari officials suggest that a new position by the Gulf states.