Mursi in his address in the summit in Iran attended by 120 nations spoke about the situation in Syria saying that “Our solidarity with the struggle of the Syrian people against an oppressive regime that has lost its legitimacy is an ethical duty as it is a political and strategic necessity,” Mursi added.

Mursi’s address to the Non-Aligned Movement summit in Tehran discomfited Syria’s Iranian backers and drew strong criticism from Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem, who said the Egyptian president had broken the NAM tradition “by interfering in the affairs of Syria,” according to comments to Al-Alam channel.

Egypt’s state-run website Al-Ahram said Morsi’s address sparked a walkout by the Syrian delegation but Muallem said he only left the for the interview with Al-Alam TV before returning.

Mursi then spoke about the Palestinian Authority, saying that the Palestinian independence “has been a priority of the (Muslim Brotherhood) movement since its birth and it will be so until we achieve a comprehensive solution that will support the right of the Palestinian people to decide their own future and to establish their free state on their own soil,” AFP reported.

He emphasised in his speech the Palestinians’ “right to self determination and a free state” and voiced support for their bid to become full members of the United Nations.

Egypt’s ties with Iran deteriorated after the 1979 Islamic Revolution brought to power a theocracy that opposed Egypt’s peace treaty with Israel. As president, Mursi has so far refused to address the issue of whether ties would be upgraded with Iran, but has suggested he would pursue a more balanced foreign policy.