UN Security Council starts closed meeting on Egypt

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UNITED NATIONS, Aug. 15 -- The UN Security Council on Thursday kicked off a meeting behind closed doors to discuss the situation in Egypt after more than 500 people were killed in the country in clashes between security forces and protesters seeking the reinstatement of deposed President Mohamed Morsi.

The closed door meeting, held at a joint request from council members France, Britain and Australia, began at around 5:35 p.m. EDT (2135 GMT).

The Egyptian security forces moved on Wednesday to clear two camps in Cairo, the Egyptian capital, which were occupied by supporters of Morsi demanding his return to power, resulting in deadly clashes across the country with at least 525 deaths and 3, 717 injuries reported by the Egyptian Health Ministry.

Hours after the raids on the camps in Cairo, Egypt's interim government declared a state of emergency nationwide for one month, imposing a curfew on Cairo and 10 provinces and allowing security forces to arrest and detain civilians indefinitely without charges.

Morsi was ousted by popular-backed military procedures in early July and he has been detained ever since.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, who is on a visit to the Middle East, has strongly condemned the violence arising from the dispersal operations, and called upon all parties in Egypt to reconsider their actions in light of the new political realities in order to save the country from further disaster.

Earlier on Thursday, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan urged the Security Council to convene quickly on Egypt.

• 343 killed in Egypt's clashes: ministry
• China urges restraint in Egypt
• Hundreds killed in Egypt's bloodiest clash in 40 years
• Int'l community urges Egypt to restrain from violence
• Egypt sees mixed domestic reactions over clearing pro-Morsi protests
• Protests held in Gaza, Jordan to support Egyptian people
• Egypt announces state of emergency for 1 month
• Kerry slams violence in Egypt
• Egyptian demonstrators confront security forces in Cairo
• Russia calls for restraint in Egypt

• Egypt's Conflict Enters New Phase After Assaults

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