Obama interrupts July 4th holiday to confer on Egyptian crisis

President Barack Obama spent part of the holiday meeting members of his national security team at the White House Situation Room Thursday, the day after the Egyptian military deposed President Mohammed Morsi and installed a temporary government.
Obama aides were in touch with Egyptian officials and regional partners, including Israeli and Turkish prime ministers, and Qatari and Emirati foreign ministers. They conveyed the importance of a quick return to a democratically elected civilian government as soon as possible. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagen spoke with Egyptian army chief El-Sisi and Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon, and National Security Adviser Susan Rice with Israeli National Security Advisor Amidror.They echoed Obama’s earlier call for a transparent political process that is inclusive of all parties and groups and of avoiding arbitrary arrests of President Morsi and his supporters.