Obama says Egypt is neither an enemy nor ally
As anti-U.S. protests continue in the Egyptian capital, President Barack Obama has called on U.S. personnel to be protected.
Attacks on the U.S. embassy in Cairo came after diplomats were killed in Libya by demonstrators angry at a film seem as blasphemous towards Islam.
As it triggered anti-American protests in a number of countries, President Obama spoke about the U.S relationship with Egypt's newly elected government.
SOUNDBITE: U.S. PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA SAYING (English):
"I don't think that we would consider them an ally, but we don't consider them an enemy. They are a new government that's trying to find its way. They were democratically elected. I think we have to see how they respond to this incident."
Analysts said the comments showed a wariness over Egypt's Islamist president, Mohamed Mursi.
Speaking on Noticiero Telemundo, Obama called on diplomatic compounds to be protected.
SOUNDBITE: U.S. PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA SAYING (English):
"Certainly in this situation what we're going to expect is that they are responsive to our insistence that our embassy is protected, that our personnel is protected and if they take actions that indicate that they are not taking those responsibilities as all other countries do where we have embassies, I think that's going to be a real big problem."
Protests in Cairo are expected to continue later on Friday (September 14) following calls for a million man march.
Attacks on the U.S. embassy in Cairo came after diplomats were killed in Libya by demonstrators angry at a film seem as blasphemous towards Islam.
As it triggered anti-American protests in a number of countries, President Obama spoke about the U.S relationship with Egypt's newly elected government.
SOUNDBITE: U.S. PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA SAYING (English):
"I don't think that we would consider them an ally, but we don't consider them an enemy. They are a new government that's trying to find its way. They were democratically elected. I think we have to see how they respond to this incident."
Analysts said the comments showed a wariness over Egypt's Islamist president, Mohamed Mursi.
Speaking on Noticiero Telemundo, Obama called on diplomatic compounds to be protected.
SOUNDBITE: U.S. PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA SAYING (English):
"Certainly in this situation what we're going to expect is that they are responsive to our insistence that our embassy is protected, that our personnel is protected and if they take actions that indicate that they are not taking those responsibilities as all other countries do where we have embassies, I think that's going to be a real big problem."
Protests in Cairo are expected to continue later on Friday (September 14) following calls for a million man march.