By Nehal El-Sherif, dpa
05.05.2014
Cairo (dpa) - Former army chief
Abdel-Fattah al-Sissi on Monday revealed two assassination plots against
him, in his first TV interview in his campaign ahead of this month's
Egyptian presidential elections.
The two attempts were uncovered since July, when he announced the ouster of Islamist president Mohammed Morsi.
"I am not afraid," al-Sissi said in the interview, aired late Monday on two channels.
Al-Sissi's campaign is expected to depend mainly on media interviews, and not street rallies, due to security concerns, leading into the May 26-27 elections.
He is widely expected to win, as supporters say he is the only person able to end the violence and bring back stability to Egypt.
Al-Sissi became Egypt's most popular politician since the army ousted Morsi, who was beset by mass protests against his own one-year-rule.
During the interview, the ex-defence minister denied that the military rules Egypt.
"The army did not rule before to rule now," he said. "During the past 30 years, did the army have a role in ruling the country? No."
"The army worked on its main role to protect the country and contribute in the (country's) development if it was possible."
Asked if the army will have a role in ruling Egypt if he was elected president, al-Sisi said: "No, of course not, really."
His statements come amid criticism by some activists and politicians that his presidency will take Egypt back to military rule.
In 1952, a group of army officers who named themselves the Free Officers Movement overthrew the Egyptian monarchy and established a republic. Since then, Egypt's first four presidents all came from the military.
The Supreme Council of the Armed Forces ruled Egypt for a year and half after the ouster of president Hosny Mubarak in 2011.
Morsi was the first civilian leader.
Al-Sissi said he decided to run because of the threats facing Egypt "from inside and outside," amid the increasing violence since Morsi was toppled.
Hundreds of people have been killed in political violence in the since July amid a deadly security crackdown on Morsi's supporters.
Over the last 10 months, hundreds were killed and thousands detained, including leaders of Morsi's Muslim Brotherhood.
Islamist militants in Sinai have targeted security forces since the 2011 uprising that overthrew Mubarak.
The attacks have intensified and spread to mainland Egypt since the army deposed Morsi. The government said more than 400 members of the security forces have been killed in militant attacks and clashes over the last year.
During the interview, al-Sissi ruled out any prospects of reconciliation with the Brotherhood, which the government declared a terrorist organization in December.
"The Brotherhood's problem is not with me, but with the Egyptian people," he said, adding that there will be "nothing called the Brotherhood" during his rule.
The field marshall's only opponent in the elections is leftist politician Hamdeen Sabahy.
Sabahy got third place in the 2012 elections, which Morsi won.
The two attempts were uncovered since July, when he announced the ouster of Islamist president Mohammed Morsi.
"I am not afraid," al-Sissi said in the interview, aired late Monday on two channels.
Al-Sissi's campaign is expected to depend mainly on media interviews, and not street rallies, due to security concerns, leading into the May 26-27 elections.
He is widely expected to win, as supporters say he is the only person able to end the violence and bring back stability to Egypt.
Al-Sissi became Egypt's most popular politician since the army ousted Morsi, who was beset by mass protests against his own one-year-rule.
During the interview, the ex-defence minister denied that the military rules Egypt.
"The army did not rule before to rule now," he said. "During the past 30 years, did the army have a role in ruling the country? No."
"The army worked on its main role to protect the country and contribute in the (country's) development if it was possible."
Asked if the army will have a role in ruling Egypt if he was elected president, al-Sisi said: "No, of course not, really."
His statements come amid criticism by some activists and politicians that his presidency will take Egypt back to military rule.
In 1952, a group of army officers who named themselves the Free Officers Movement overthrew the Egyptian monarchy and established a republic. Since then, Egypt's first four presidents all came from the military.
The Supreme Council of the Armed Forces ruled Egypt for a year and half after the ouster of president Hosny Mubarak in 2011.
Morsi was the first civilian leader.
Al-Sissi said he decided to run because of the threats facing Egypt "from inside and outside," amid the increasing violence since Morsi was toppled.
Hundreds of people have been killed in political violence in the since July amid a deadly security crackdown on Morsi's supporters.
Over the last 10 months, hundreds were killed and thousands detained, including leaders of Morsi's Muslim Brotherhood.
Islamist militants in Sinai have targeted security forces since the 2011 uprising that overthrew Mubarak.
The attacks have intensified and spread to mainland Egypt since the army deposed Morsi. The government said more than 400 members of the security forces have been killed in militant attacks and clashes over the last year.
During the interview, al-Sissi ruled out any prospects of reconciliation with the Brotherhood, which the government declared a terrorist organization in December.
"The Brotherhood's problem is not with me, but with the Egyptian people," he said, adding that there will be "nothing called the Brotherhood" during his rule.
The field marshall's only opponent in the elections is leftist politician Hamdeen Sabahy.
Sabahy got third place in the 2012 elections, which Morsi won.