John Kerry condemns terror attacks in Egypt

US Secretary of State John Kerry on Sunday strongly condemned violence and acts of terror against civilians and security forces in Egypt, while reiterating his administration's keen interest on relations with the Arab country. "I stress the need for all violence and all acts of terror to come to an end," Kerry told a joint press conference with Egyptian Foreign Minister Nabil Fahmi. The US diplomat was in Cairo for a few hours on the first leg of a regional tour that will take him to other Middle Eastern countries, including Israel and Saudi Arabia. His visit comes ahead of the trial of the country's first elected civilian president Mohamed Morsi who was ousted by the powerful military on July 3. Morsi faces charges of inciting the killing of demonstrators outside the presidential palace in December last year. Kerry said Fahmi had emphasized during their talks the interim government's commitment to the roadmap announced with Morsi's ouster, which includes the amendment of the constitution and holding parliamentary and presidential elections within nine months. He asserted that amending the constitution will define the road ahead for Egypt, but he repeatedly dwelt on the importance for economic development. "The people of Egypt need to see the economy taking hold and improving the quality of their lives," Kerry said. Egypt's economy has been going down a dangerous slope with growing turmoil in the populous Arab country.