Regional reactions mixed to Mursi win
- 12 years ago
Egypt's regional neighbours share mixed feelings over Egypt's new Islamist President Mohamed Mursi.
In Israel, many have reservations, although some are willing to give Mursi and the Muslim Brotherhood a chance.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) JERUSALEM RESIDENT ALLIS LIFER-ANGER SAYING:
"I think that we have to give him a chance. I'm a little bit worried, I'm actually, in some ways I'm more worried for the Egyptians. I don't think they, all of them know what they have voted for, I don't think they're used to being a religious country. But I don't think that he's as extreme as maybe some of our fears are."
Feelings are similar amongst some in Iraq, with Baghdad residents questioning whether Islam has any place in politics.
(SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) MOHAMMED ALI, BAGHDAD RESIDENT, SAYING:
"I consider the Egyptian election to be an unsuccessful election because of the win by the Muslim Brotherhood. I think Mohamed Mursi will do nothing for them, he will destroy the Egyptian people. Every Islamic party which came to power in an Arab state destroyed it. Now in Iraq the Islamists are in power and all of them are failures."
But the mood is celebratory in fellow Arab Spring nation Tunisia.
Leaders from the ruling Islamist party welcomed Mursi into the fold and lauded Egypt's first democratic presidential elections in decades.
Mursi won 52 percent of the popular vote on Sunday, narrowly beating rival and former prime minister Ahmed Shafik.
Jessica Gray, Reuters
In Israel, many have reservations, although some are willing to give Mursi and the Muslim Brotherhood a chance.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) JERUSALEM RESIDENT ALLIS LIFER-ANGER SAYING:
"I think that we have to give him a chance. I'm a little bit worried, I'm actually, in some ways I'm more worried for the Egyptians. I don't think they, all of them know what they have voted for, I don't think they're used to being a religious country. But I don't think that he's as extreme as maybe some of our fears are."
Feelings are similar amongst some in Iraq, with Baghdad residents questioning whether Islam has any place in politics.
(SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) MOHAMMED ALI, BAGHDAD RESIDENT, SAYING:
"I consider the Egyptian election to be an unsuccessful election because of the win by the Muslim Brotherhood. I think Mohamed Mursi will do nothing for them, he will destroy the Egyptian people. Every Islamic party which came to power in an Arab state destroyed it. Now in Iraq the Islamists are in power and all of them are failures."
But the mood is celebratory in fellow Arab Spring nation Tunisia.
Leaders from the ruling Islamist party welcomed Mursi into the fold and lauded Egypt's first democratic presidential elections in decades.
Mursi won 52 percent of the popular vote on Sunday, narrowly beating rival and former prime minister Ahmed Shafik.
Jessica Gray, Reuters