African Union (AU) has suspended Egypt from all activities following the overthrow of the government, a senior official has said.

The decision of the 54-member bloc came while demonstrations in support of ousted president Mohammed Morsi were going on in Cairo, the Egyptian capital.

"As mandated by the relevant AU instruments, the African Union Peace and Security Council decides to suspend the participation of Egypt in AU activities until the restoration of constitutional order," Admore Kambudzi, Secretary of the Peace and Security Council of AU, said after a meeting on Friday.

Suspension decision is the AU's usual response to any interruption of constitutional rule by a member state.

Morsi was removed from the office by the army on Wednesday after protests against his government.

PHOTO CAPTION

Egypt's ousted President Mohamed Mursi (C) arrives at Bole International airport for the 21st Ordinary Session of the African Union (AU) in Addis Ababa May 24, 2013.

Al-Jazeera