U.S. condemns Morsi comments

WASHINGTON -- The Obama administration gave a blistering review Tuesday of remarks Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi made almost three years ago about Jews and called on him to repudiate what it called unacceptable rhetoric.

In blunt comments, the White House and the State Department said Morsi's statements were "deeply offensive" and ran counter to the goal of peace in the region. The State Department, noting that a senior congressional delegation is now visiting Egypt, said the remarks complicated efforts to provide economic and military aid to Egypt.

"We believe that President Morsi should make clear that he respects people of all faiths and that this type of rhetoric is unacceptable in a democratic Egypt," White House spokesman Jay Carney told reporters.

Morsi was a leader in the Muslim Brotherhood in 2010 when, according to video broadcast last week on Egyptian television he asked Egyptians to "nurse our children and our grandchildren on hatred." Months later, in a television interview, Morsi referred to Zionists as bloodsuckers who attack Palestinians, describing Zionists as "the descendants of apes and pigs."

A group of senators, including John McCain (R-Ariz.), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Kelly Ayotte (R-N.H.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) and Christopher Coons (D-Del.) is currently in Cairo. State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said she expected they would make their views known to Egypt's leadership. -- AP