Trump says 'not concerned’ with Egypt protests

By Servet Gunerigok

WASHINGTON (AA) - U.S. President Donald Trump said Monday he was not concerned with protests against Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi.

"Everybody has demonstrations," said Trump while meeting with Sisi on the margins of 74th session of the UN General Assembly. "I'm not concerned with it. Egypt has a great leader. He's highly respected."

"So I'm not worried about it," he added.

Hundreds of protesters took to the streets in central Cairo and several other cities Friday against Sisi, a former army general who came to power in 2014 after ousting democratically elected President Mohamed Morsi.

The protests came in response to calls for Sisi to step down by Mohamed Ali, a former army contractor, who accused Sisi and the military of corruption.

More than 350 people have been arrested across Egypt since Friday, according to the Egyptian Commission for Rights and Freedoms (ECRF).

Trump also threw his support behind the Egyptian leader, saying “he has done some things that are absolutely amazing in a short period of time."

"When he took over, it was in turmoil. But it's not in turmoil anymore. I just wanted to say we have a long-term great relationship. It's better than ever before.”