European Union’s Ashton Meets with Ousted Egyptian President Morsi

European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton became the first Western leader to be allowed to meet with ousted Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi when she was allowed access in Cairo for two hours on Tuesday. Despite the Ashton visit, Morsi’s whereabouts remains a secret. Declaring that Morsi appeared fit and well-treated, Ashton reported that the once democratically-elected leader has access to television and has been apprised of the situation in the country, including the street violence between his supporters and critics that has left at least 300 dead during the month since his ouster. Ashton said that Gen. Al-Sisi, the head of the Egyptian military and the man responsible for overthrowing Morsi, had asked for her to come to Cairo but that she refused to do so unless she was allowed to meet with Morsi. Ashton is emerging as the apparent mediator between the Egyptian military and the Muslim Brotherhood, the Islamist group headed by Morsi that is demanding his reinstatement.