US Under Secretary of State Bill Burns urged Egypt’s army-backed leaders to end violence, more than a week after the military ousted president Mohammad Mursi.

US Under Secretary of State Bill Burns urged Egypt's army-backed leaders to end violence, more than a week after the military ousted president Mohammad Mursi.

As he called for dialogue, he also urged the army to avoid "politically motivated arrests" amid growing international unease at the crackdown on Mursi's Muslim Brotherhood.

He was speaking after talks with the new leadership, including the army-appointed interim premier Hazem al-Beblawi, who is expected to announce a new cabinet Tuesday or Wednesday.

"The first priority must be to end violence and incitement, prevent retribution, and begin a serious and substantive dialogue among all sides and all political parties," he said.

Burns also met general behind the coup, army chief Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, as well as the military-appointed president Adly Mansour and Beblawi.

Burns' visit is the first to Egypt by a senior US official since the military toppled Morsi in a popularly backed coup on July 3.

Egypt's new leaders are pushing ahead with a transition plan for an interim government and fresh elections, despite the continuing protests by Morsi loyalists.
A State Department spokeswoman confirmed that Burns had not met any Brotherhood officials.