Egypt angered by Muslim Brotherhood dealings with U.S. officials

Egypt has summoned the U.S. ambassador Stephen Beecroft in Cairo to show displeasure at Muslim Brotherhood figures coming to Washington for a private conference. The tensions reflect a clash between US diplomats’ desire to deal with the whole political spectrum in Egypt and a fear of alienating Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi who toppled a Muslim Brotherhood-led government in 2013. A source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said U.S. officials did not intend to meet the group. U.S. State Department spokesman Jeff Rathke said he was aware of media reports of a visit but he didn’t have any meetings to announce. It’s unknown when Mr Beecroft was called in by the Egyptian government, though sources say it was in recent days. Egypt sought the meeting to make clear its unhappiness at US dealings with the Brotherhood after reports of more than one meeting.

Politics