Egypt’s Army calls for unity

Egypt™s Army has called for unity after overthrowing President Mohamed Morsi in a coup and replacing him with the country™s top judge.

The army said in a statement released on Friday that it wants to œensure national reconciliation, constructive justice and tolerance,” adding that œWisdom, true nationalism and constructive human values that all religions have called for, require us now to avoid taking any exceptional or arbitrary measures against any faction or political current.”

The statement also said that people can enjoy their right to protest as long as they do not use that right excessively, warning that going beyond peaceful demonstrations could threaten social peace and damage security.

œPeaceful protest and freedom of expression are rights guaranteed to everyone, … Excessive use of this right without reason could carry some negative implications, including blocking roads, delaying public benefits and destroying institutions, posing a threat to social peace, the national interest and damaging the security and economy in our precious Egypt” it added.

The army™s statement comes after hundreds of arrest warrants were issued for leaders of the Muslim Brotherhood group.

On Thursday, Muslim Brotherhood’s Supreme Leader Mohammed Badie was also arrested by Egyptian military police in a resort village in the western city of Marsa Matrouh.

Morsi, removed from office late Wednesday, is reportedly held œpreventively” by the military. An army official has said that Morsi might face formal charges over accusations made by his opponents.

The chief justice of Supreme Constitutional Court, Adli Mansour, was sworn in as interim president of Egypt.

In a ceremony held on Thursday, in the Supreme Constitutional Court building in Cairo, Mansour swore to œpreserve the system of the republic, and respect the constitution and law, and guard the people™s interests.”

Meanwhile, the Brotherhood announced that it would boycott the new political process in the country and also called on its supporters to detach themselves from the recent development.

The group also called on Egyptians to hold nationwide rallies after Friday prayers to condemn the coup that ousted the country™s first-elected president.

MAM/HN