A statement that the Egyptian people would have liked to see come from the U.S. or Europe. Of course, Saudi Arabia’s concerns are economic and they don’t want a theocracy since that would threaten their interests.  But the Egyptians are welcoming the statement, in any event, as the Muslim Brotherhood continues to wreak havoc in the streets.

RIYADH (Reuters) – Saudi King Abdullah called on Arabs to stand together against “attempts to destabilize” Egypt, in a strong message of support for the country’s military leadership read out on Saudi television on Friday.

“The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, its people and government stood and stands by today with its brothers in Egypt against terrorism,” he said.

“I call on the honest men of Egypt and the Arab and Muslim nations … to stand as one man and with one heart in the face of attempts to destabilize a country that is at the forefront of Arab and Muslim history,” he added.

Saudi Arabia was a close ally of former president Hosni Mubarak and has historically had a difficult relationship with the Muslim Brotherhood. It pledged $5 billion in aid to Egypt after Mohammed Mursi of the Brotherhood was ousted from the presidency last month.