New Egyptian president vows to bring security

Women celebrate Abdul Fattah al-Sisi’s election in Tahrir Square on June 3. Many Egyptians believe that after three years of turmoil Mr Sisi is the saviour they have been waiting for. PHOTO BY AFP

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Mr Sisi’s victory came almost a year after he ousted Egypt’s first freely elected president, Mohamed Morsi, following mass protests against his rule.

CAIRO- Former army chief Abdul Fattah al-Sisi has vowed to to tackle “terrorism” and bring security, after being sworn in as Egypt’s new president.

He said his election after a landslide win in May was “a historic moment”, and pledged no reconciliation with those who had “committed violence”.

The retired field marshal overthrew President Mohammed Morsi last July.

He has since been pursuing a crackdown on Mr Morsi’s Muslim Brotherhood, which urged a boycott of the elections.
Liberal and secular activists, including the April 6 youth movement which was prominent in the 2011 revolution that ousted long-serving President Hosni Mubarak, also shunned the May 26-28 poll in protest at the curtailing of civil rights.

Mr Sisi, 59, made no mention directly of the Muslim Brotherhood in a speech at a Cairo presidential palace late on Sunday.
But he said there would be no reconciliation with anyone who had “blood on their hands”.

The former army chief said: “Defeating terrorism and achieving security is the top priority in our coming phase.”
“There will be no acquiescence or laxity shown to those who resorted to violence,” he added.

Mr Sisi was earlier sworn in for a four-year term at a ceremony shown live on television.

Mr Sisi’s victory came almost a year after he ousted Egypt’s first freely elected president, Mohamed Morsi, following mass protests against his rule.

At the swearing-in, the Supreme Constitutional Court deputy head, Maher Sami, said the ousting was not a coup, and that Mr Sisi had responded to the will of the people.

In the May elections, Mr Sisi secured 96.9 per cent of the vote and his sole challenger, left-winger Hamdeen Sabahi, received only 3.1 per cent. Turnout was less than 50 per cent.