President Barack Obama says the U.S. is closely watching political unrest in Egypt, where President Mohamed Morsi’s opponents have been calling for his departure.

During a joint news conference in Pretoria Saturday with South Africa’s President Jacob Zuma, Obama said the U.S. would like to see President Morsi and the opposition engage in more constructive conversation on how to move the country forward.

“Obviously, we are all looking at the situation there with concern,” Obama said. “The United States has supported democracy in Egypt. It has been challenging given there is not a tradition of democracy in Egypt.”

Obama said the U.S. supports peaceful methods to bring about change. All political groups in Egypt should renounce violence, he added.

In Egypt, the opposition has been accusing Morsi and his Muslim Brotherhood movement of trying to undermine secular rights.

On Friday, Morsi’s supporters and opponents traded gunfire and threw firecrackers during street fighting in Alexandria.

Authorities say two people were killed in the unrest, including a young American student who was stabbed to death while photographing the protests.

Activists are planning a massive anti-government rally in Cairo’s Tahrir Square on Sunday, which is the anniversary of Morsi’s ascent to the presidency last year. [Read More]

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Source: VOA News: Economy and Finance