CAIRO — Egypt's army chief says the military will not accept political "maneuvering," in thinly veiled warning to the only Islamist party that sided with the army's removal of President Mohammed Morsi but has since had frictions with other factions over forming a new leadership.
Defense Minister Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi said yesterday in a statement carried by state TV that "the future of the nation is too important and sacred for maneuvers or hindrance, whatever the justifications."
The statement appears to refer to days of political stalemate after an ultraconservative party, Al-Nour, objected to two nominees for prime minister and outright blocked one of them, pro-reform leader Mohamed ElBaradei.
El-Sissi's statement comes shortly after a prominent economist Hazem el-Beblawi was named prime minister.
Egypt's military warns of political "maneuvering."
The shootings began during a protest by about 1,000 Islamists outside the Republican Guard headquarters where Morsi, Egypt's first freely elected leader, was detained last week. Demonstrators and members of the Brotherhood said troops descended on them and opened fire unprovoked as they finished dawn prayers. (AP Photo/Tarek Elframawy)