Egypt has blamed the Turkish president of backing terrorists and stoking chaos in the Middle East.  

Reuters reported yesterday that the accusations came after Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan criticized the legitimacy of his Egyptian counterpart, Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, in a September 24 speech at the United Nations General Assembly.  

“Again, those objecting [to] the murders in Iraq, Syria and the murder of democracy in Egypt are subjected to certain unfair and groundless accusations and almost immediately accused of supporting terrorism,” said Erdogan, according to Reuters. 

“The United Nations as well as the democratic countries have done nothing but watch the events such as overthrowing the elected president in Egypt and the killings of thousands of innocent people who want to defend their choice. And the person who carried out this coup is being legitimized,” added the Turkish leader.  

Last year, then-Egyptian army chief Sisi overthrew President Mohamed Mursi of the Muslim Brotherhood after his election resulted in large protests. 

The Egyptian army launched a fatal crackdown against Muslim Brotherhood supporters and placed Mursi and other leaders on trial.   

Egypt’s foreign ministry dismissed the Turkish president’s criticism of its leader as “lies and fabrications” and accused Erdogan of being “keen to provoke chaos to sow divisions in the Middle East region through its support for groups and terrorist organizations.”  

“Whether political support or funding or accommodation in order to harm the interests of the peoples of the region to achieve personal ambitions for the Turkish president and revive illusions of the past,” added the ministry.  

The Muslim Brotherhood has been linked to Erdogan’s AK Party, Reuters reported. 

“Turkey has supported Syrian rebel groups fighting Assad but strongly denies any suggestion that it has supported Islamic State or other radical Islamist militants, saying they pose a major security threat to Turkey,” noted the article.  

Foreign fighters seeking entry into Syria are using neighboring Turkey as a pathway.