Nations across Mideast welcome Morsi's ouster

In reflection of ties between regional govts and Muslim Brotherhood, reaction to Morsi's ouster was almost universally positive

Governments across the Middle East on Thursday welcomed the ouster of Egypt's Islamist president Mohamed Morsi with varying degrees of enthusiasm, with war-hit Syria calling it a "great achievement".

In a reflection of tense ties between many regional governments and the Muslim Brotherhood organisation from which Morsi hails, reaction to the Egyptian leader's ouster was almost universally positive.

Israel and its arch-foe Iran gave muted reaction while in Islamist-ruled Tunisia, the cradle of the Arab Spring that swept through Cairo and eventually brought Morsi to power, President Moncef Marzouki ruled out the risk of contagion.

"Could Tunisia witness the same (Egyptian) scenario? I don't think so...," said Marzouki, stressing the need to "pay attention" to "serious economic and social demands" by the people.

In Syria, where forces loyal to embattled President Bashar al-Assad are battling rebels including Islamists determined to topple the regime, an official source hailed the change in Cairo.

"Syria's people and leadership and army express their deep appreciation for the national, populist movement in Egypt which has yielded a great achievement," state television quoted the source as saying.

Mass protests that preceded Morsi's ouster by the army meant the people reject the rule of the Muslim Brotherhood across the Arab world, the source said.

Oil powerhouse Saudi Arabia and the Gulf monarchies of Bahrain and Kuwait congratulated Egypt's interim president, Adly Mansour.

Saudi King Abdullah also paid tribute to Egyptian army chief Abdel Fattah al-Sisi for using "wisdom" in helping to resolve the crisis and avoiding "unforseen consequences".

There was similar praise for the Egyptian army from the United Arab Emirates.

UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed al-Nahayan expressed "satisfaction" and pledged to boost ties with Cairo that were strained during Morsi's one-year rule.

Since last year the UAE has been cracking down on Emiratis and Egyptians it accuses of links to the Muslim Brotherhood, and on Tuesday a court jailed dozens of Islamists on charges of plotting to overthrow the government.

Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki also congratulated Mansour and expressed support for the Egyptian people "who are going through a difficult period," a statement in Baghdad said.

In Israel, which has had a peace treaty with Egypt since 1979 but strained ties, ministers were tightlipped after reportedly being told by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to refrain from comment.