As Egyptian security forces engage in street battles with supporters of deposed president Mohammed Morsi, the US tried to maintain an appearance of not backing any side in the crisis.

Deputy Secretary of State William Burns visited Cairo and met with Egypt’s military chief General Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi.  He told reporters that the United States backs those siding with the original aspirations of the people who flooded the streets in 2011 in the ouster of longtime dictator Hosni Mubarek.

But earlier reports suggested that the US had more than an observational role in the 3 July overthrow of Muhammed Morsi.  Washington was never comfortable with Morsi, whose popularity plummeted as he pursued an Islamist social agenda instead of taking care of the economy.

Morsi’s Muslim Brotherhood refused to meet with Burns because of the perceived backstab from the US not supporting the elected president.  The opposition Tamerod protesters declined to sit down with Burns until the US makes clear if it truly supports the revolution.

“First, they need to acknowledge the new system,” Tamarod founder Mahmoud Badr told reporters, “Secondly, they must apologize for their support for the Muslim Brotherhood's party and terrorism. Then we can think about it.”

Meanwhile, Egyptian police have fired tear gas at pro-Morsi protesters at Cairo's Rabaa al-Adawiya mosque, where tens of thousands have been rallying for the past two weeks.  Anti-Morsi protests are also planned at Tahrir Square, crucible of the 2011 revolution.