Egypt’s defense minister warned of the “collapse of the state,” as a political tussle between President Mohamed Mursi and his opponents extended almost a week of violent unrest that has left dozens dead.
After defying a curfew last night, protesters in the Suez Canal province of Port Said -- one of three areas the president has placed under emergency rule -- vowed today to remain resolute in rejecting the measure imposed by Mursi to quell the unrest. Yesterday, the main secular opposition bloc rejected calls by Mursi for a national dialogue, saying “serious” political discourse was needed, not security solutions.
The conflict between the political forces “and their disagreement on running the country may lead to the collapse of the state,” Defense Minister Abdelfatah Al-Seesi was quoted as saying in a statement posted on the armed forces’ official Facebook page. The political instability and economic challenges “represent a real threat to Egypt’s security.”
The unrest that gathered momentum on Jan. 25, the second anniversary of the start of the uprising that ousted Hosni Mubarak, is thwarting efforts to restore the political order needed to revive an economy still struggling to recover. Al- Seesi’s warning underscored the risks facing Egypt, where the latest spasm of violence has left at least 50 dead.
Mursi’s efforts to re-establish order, including decrees that temporarily widened his powers and support for a constitution passed in a referendum last month, have only fueled discontent with the president and his Muslim Brotherhood allies.
The largely secular and youth activist-led opposition says he has reneged on campaign pledges, and is intent solely on cementing Islamist rule at the expense of the nation’s interests.
The army, which ran the country between Mubarak’s ouster in February 2011 and Mursi’s election in June last year, has said it is taking no sides and is interested only in safeguarding the nation.
To contact the reporter on this story: Tarek El-Tablawy in Cairo at [email protected]
To contact the editor responsible for this story: Andrew J. Barden at [email protected]
After defying a curfew last night, protesters in the Suez Canal province of Port Said -- one of three areas the president has placed under emergency rule -- vowed today to remain resolute in rejecting the measure imposed by Mursi to quell the unrest. Yesterday, the main secular opposition bloc rejected calls by Mursi for a national dialogue, saying “serious” political discourse was needed, not security solutions.
The conflict between the political forces “and their disagreement on running the country may lead to the collapse of the state,” Defense Minister Abdelfatah Al-Seesi was quoted as saying in a statement posted on the armed forces’ official Facebook page. The political instability and economic challenges “represent a real threat to Egypt’s security.”
The unrest that gathered momentum on Jan. 25, the second anniversary of the start of the uprising that ousted Hosni Mubarak, is thwarting efforts to restore the political order needed to revive an economy still struggling to recover. Al- Seesi’s warning underscored the risks facing Egypt, where the latest spasm of violence has left at least 50 dead.
Mursi’s efforts to re-establish order, including decrees that temporarily widened his powers and support for a constitution passed in a referendum last month, have only fueled discontent with the president and his Muslim Brotherhood allies.
The largely secular and youth activist-led opposition says he has reneged on campaign pledges, and is intent solely on cementing Islamist rule at the expense of the nation’s interests.
The army, which ran the country between Mubarak’s ouster in February 2011 and Mursi’s election in June last year, has said it is taking no sides and is interested only in safeguarding the nation.
To contact the reporter on this story: Tarek El-Tablawy in Cairo at [email protected]
To contact the editor responsible for this story: Andrew J. Barden at [email protected]