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Middle East and North Africa

Egypt events may influence political situation in neighboring countries

"The events in Egypt are not the end of the Arab spring", - Mikhail Margelov, Chairman of the committee for international affairs under the Federation Council

Denis Vyshynsky/Photo ITAR-TASS

Denis Vyshynsky/Photo ITAR-TASS

MOSCOW, July 4 (Itar-Tass) - Chairman of the committee for international affairs under the Federation Council upper house of the Russian parliament Mikhail Margelov believes the events in Egypt are an adjustment of "the Arab spring," and that they may influence the political situation in other countries.

In interview to Itar-Tass, Margelov explained in comments on the latest events in Egypt, such as the ousting of President Mohamed Morsi, the arrest of the head of the Musltim Brotherhood Party, and the appointment of the Constitutional Court chairman as interim head of state, that in actual fact, "it was a soft overthrow with active support from below by the Opposition parties, youth groups and mass rallies in the largest cities."

In his opinion, the situation is not easy, because Morsi has not officially stepped down, so the army will have to be on alert to "prevent the clashes between the Opposition and the Islamists that can turn into bloodshed."

"The events in Egypt are not the end of the Arab spring, they are adjusting it; it is a demonstration that theocracy is a non-fatal result of revolutions in the Arab world," Margelov said, "the first stage of the Arab spring caused the domino effect. The Egypt events may influence the political situation in neighboring countries."

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