WASHINGTON (AP) — The Obama administration says a statement from the Egyptian presidency is not enough to ease concerns about anti-Jewish and anti-Israel comments that Mohammed Morsi made before he took office.
The statement from Morsi's office rejects discrimination and incitement to violence based on religion.
The State Department calls the statement, quote, "an important first step," but says the U.S. continues to look for him and other Egyptian leaders to demonstrate a commitment to religious tolerance and Egypt's peace treaty with Israel.
Spokeswoman Victoria Nuland would not say Thursday if Washington wants a personal repudiation from Morsi. But she made clear the U.S. needs more convincing that he no longer holds to remarks in 2010 in which he urged hatred of Jews and called Zionists "pigs" and "bloodsuckers."
