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Saudi King Abdullah states support for Egypt's military

On Friday King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia voiced his support for the military leadership of Egypt and spoke of fighting against terrorism, a reference to the Muslim Brotherhood. Saudi pledged $5 billion in aid to Egypt after the ousting of President Mohamed Morsi. 

SaudiÌýKing Abdullah called on Arabs on Friday to stand together against "attempts to destabilise"Ìý, in a message of support for the military leadership and an attack on theÌý.

"The Kingdom ofÌý, its people and government, stood and stands today with its brothers inÌýÌýagainst terrorism," he said in a message read out onÌýSaudiÌýtelevision, in an apparent reference to continuing clashes between theÌýÌýand police.

"I call on the honest men ofÌýÌýand the Arab and Muslim nations... to stand as one man and with one heart in the face of attempts to destabilise a country that is at the forefront of Arab and Muslim history," he added.

Hundreds were killed inÌýÌýthis week when the security forces cleared protest camps set up by theÌýÌýto demonstrate against the military's ousting of President Mohamed Morsi last month.

Ìýwas a close ally of former President Hosni Mubarak — the veteran strongman brought down by a popular uprising in 2011 — and it fears the spread ofÌýÌýideology to the Gulf monarchies. It pledged $5 billion in aid toÌýÌýafter the Islamist Morsi was ousted.

King Abdullah's statement wasÌý's first comment on the turmoil inÌý, a country it sees as an essential ally against Shi'ite Muslim Iran and anti-Western Islamist groups.

"All those who meddle inÌý's internal affairs are inflaming strife," he said, adding that the North African country faces "a conspiracy of plotters" trying to strike at its unity and stability.

Reporting by Angus McDowall inÌý, Sami Aboudi and Maha El Dahan in Dubai