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The White House is condemning violence in Egypt, saying it will only make it more difficult for the country to move forward.

At least 149 people were killed in Egypt Wednesday, many of them in assaults on the protest vigils among supporters of ousted President Mohammed Morsi. Egypt’s interim president also declared a monthlong state of emergency, ordering the armed forces to support police in efforts to restore law and order.

White House spokesman Josh Earnest, speaking at Martha’s Vineyard, Mass., where President Barack Obama is vacationing, says the violence runs counter to the pledges made by Egypt’s interim government. He says the “world is watching” what is happening in Cairo and urged restraint.

The Obama administration has avoided making a determination on whether Morsi’s ouster was a coup.

Egypt’s official news agency says 149 people have been killed in clashes across the nation between supporters of the ousted Islamist president and security forces.

The agency quoted a Health Ministry spokesman who also said 1,403 people have been wounded.

The casualty figure followed simultaneous raids by police early on Wednesday on two sprawling encampments of Morsi supporters. The raids sparked running street battles elsewhere in Cairo and other Egyptian cities.

Interim President Adly Mansour declared a monthlong state of emergency, ordering the armed forces to support the police in efforts to restore law and order and protect state facilities.

Morsi was ousted in a July 3 military coup that followed days of mass protests by millions of Egyptians demanding that he steps down.

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(AP)