Morsi's opponents spurn U.S. official

CAIRO - A top U.S. diplomat was rebuffed Monday by representatives of the group that led the popular uprising against Egypt's first democratically elected president and by the Islamist party that could benefit from the ouster, underscoring the depth of anti-American sentiment among many segments of Egyptian society.

Deputy Secretary of State William Burns, the highest-level American official to visit Cairo since Mohammed Morsi was removed as president by the military July 3, held meetings Monday with the army chief and defense minister, Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Sissi, and with members of the interim government appointed to run Egypt until elections are held.

But the Tamarod rebel movement that instigated the demonstrations against Morsi declined an invitation to attend a roundtable discussion with Burns and U.S. Ambassador Anne Patterson at a top Cairo hotel. It accused the United States of supporting Israel, working against the interests of Arabs, and backing Egypt's deposed Muslim Brotherhood, according to a statement on the group's website.

Without giving a reason, the Salafist Nour party also refused to meet with Burns, Egyptian media reported. The Middle East News Agency quoted an unnamed party member as saying it rejected "American interference in Egyptian affairs."

The Salafists joined the secularist Tamarod movement's calls for Morsi to step down, and both parties have accused the United States of backing the Muslim Brotherhood against its opponents during Morsi's year-long tenure.

But the refusal of the United States to label Morsi's ouster a coup has also offended the Brotherhood, which has accused Washington of complicity in his downfall. Brotherhood spokesman Gehad Haddad said the organization had not been invited to meet Burns and had not sought an invitation.

Burns' visit came as tensions mounted in Cairo, where Morsi's Brotherhood supporters pledged to hold the latest in a series of nighttime demonstrations aimed at pressuring the military to restore Morsi to the presidency. Late Monday, Reuters news service reported that security forces had fired tear gas following "scuffles" between Morsi supporters and others.

Speaking to reporters at the U.S. Embassy earlier on Monday, Burns signaled Washington's readiness to stand with Egypt's interim leaders. He called the country's transition "a second chance" to achieve the democratic ideals of the 2011 uprising.