Wednesday, July 24, 2013

Egyptian army chief calls for street protests


The head of the Egyptian army has urged people to come out on Friday to demonstrate against "terrorism".


Abdel Fattah al-Sisi said he wanted the people to give the military a mandate to confront violence and terrorism.


Supporters of Mohammed Morsi have been protesting against the army intervention which removed him as president of Egypt on 3 July.


But Gen Sisi said he was not calling for public violence and wanted national reconciliation.


"I urge the people to take to the streets this coming Friday to prove their will and give me, the army and police, a mandate to confront possible violence and terrorism," said Gen Sisi, who is also the defence minister in the new government.


He was speaking at a military graduation ceremony.


He rejected rumours about divisions within the army ranks. "I swear by God that the Egyptian army is united," he said.


Referring to the army's intervention to remove Mr Morsi early this month, Gen Sisi sad: "I urged the former president to be a president for all Egyptians".


And, recalling the 2012 presidential election when Mr Morsi was elected, he said that he had advised Islamists not to field a presidential candidate - but that they had ignored him.


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