Cairo 15th August 2013 : There has been strong international condemnation of the deadly crackdown against protests in support of ousted President Mohammed Mursi which has killed scores of people yesterday.

“The events were “deplorable” and “a real blow to reconciliation efforts,” said US Secretary of State John Kerry.

White House spokesman Josh Earnest said:”The United States strongly condemns the use of violence against protesters in Egypt.”

Britain, France, Germany and Italy also criticized the use of force and urged both sides to stand down from their dangerous face-off.

“We call on all political forces to return immediately to negotiations and avert an escalation of violence,” German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle told.

Qatar “strongly denounces” the use of violence against Egyptian protesters, and told security forces to “preserve the lives of Egyptians at protest sites.”

Turkey called on the international community to act immediately over what it called a “massacre” in Egypt, and voiced fears that Egypt could descend into a situation similar to the conflict in Syria.

The European Union said yesterday that reports that protesters had been killed were “extremely worrying” and called for restraint from Egyptian authorities.

Michael Mann, a spokesman for EU foreign policy Chief Catherine Ashton said: “The reports of deaths and injuries are extremely worrying. We reiterate that violence won’t lead to any solution and we urge the Egyptian authorities to proceed with utmost restraint.”

Iran also condemned the use of violence, warning that it would increase the likelihood of civil war.