Egypt still supports the Syrian revolution, according to the foreign ministry.
Egypt's recent decision to require a mandatory visa for Syrians to enter the country came about due to the "temporary internal situation,” foreign ministry spokesman Badr Abdel-Atty said on Tuesday.
Cairo International Airport authorities deported 276 Syrians who arrived from Beirut and Damascus on Monday night after Egyptian authorities laid down new conditions for admission to Egypt a few hours before their arrival.
Syrians were unconditionally allowed entry before president Mohamed Morsi's removal, but now a visa and a security permit are mandatory.
Abdel-Atty called on Syrians living in Egypt or those who wish to come to take all legal procedures required by the Egyptian state in consideration of the current "security situation" the country is going experiencing.
According to Ahram Arabic, the foreign ministry spokesman said that the decision does not affect Egypt's stance on supporting the "Syrian revolution… and its people's aspirations for a democracy that guarantees their rights."
Egypt has recently become home to hundreds of thousands of Syrians fleeing the ongoing conflict in their country.
On Sunday, the foreign ministry announced that Egypt and Syria have agreed to keep relations between the two countries at a consulate level, after diplomatic ties had been cut by Morsi in June.
[This article originally appeared on Ahram Online.]