Egypt’s military ‘won’t allow any further violence’
Print Edition
Egypt’s military leader vowed yesterday that the army will not allow further violence after the deaths of hundreds in days of political unrest, while still calling for the political inclusion of Islamist supporters of the country’s ousted president.
Defense Minister General Abdel-Fatah el-Sissi, who led the July 3 coup that toppled President Mohammed Morsi, again said the army had no intention of seizing power in Egypt.
El-Sissi’s comments came during his first appearance since a deadly crackdown last Wednesday on two encampments of Morsi supporters left hundreds dead and sparked violence across the country.
“We will not stand by silently watching the destruction of the country and the people or torching the nation and terrorizing the citizens,” he said.
The general said the military didn’t seek power but instead “have the honor to protect the people’s will — which is much dearer (than) ruling Egypt.”
El-Sissi called for Islamists to be included in the country’s politics moving forward.
A military timetable calls for the nation’s constitution to be amended and for presidential and parliamentary elections to be held in 2014.
“We have given many chances to end the crisis peacefully and call for the followers of the former regime to participate in rebuilding the democratic track and integrate in the political process and the future map instead of confrontations and destroying the Egyptian state,” El-Sissi said at a gathering of top military commanders and police chiefs.
The Muslim Brotherhood said it was planning more marches to demand the reinstatement of Morsi.
Egypt is grappling with the worst bout of internal bloodshed in its modern history, just 30 months after President Hosni Mubarak’s overthrow.
Around 800 people have died, including about 79 police, in a crackdown that has earned the military rulers condemnation from major aid donor the United States and the European Union, but support from wealthy Arab allies led by Saudi Arabia, which fear the spread of Brotherhood ideology to the Gulf monarchies.
Hundreds of Morsi supporters staged six separate marches in Egypt’s second city, Alexandria, late on Saturday in defiance of a curfew. People in civilian clothes attacked and dispersed two of the processions. No casualties were reported.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
