Egypt military warns against violence attempts

Supporters of Muslim Brotherhood's presidential candidate Mohamed Morsy and other protesters pray during a demonstration against the delay in the Egyptian presidential results and against the Supreme Council for the Armed Forces (SCAF) at Tahrir square in Cairo June 22, 2012. [Photo/Agencies]

CAIRO - Egypt's ruling Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF) on Friday warned against any attempt to harm national interests, as mass protests continued for the fourth consecutive day on Friday against the dissolution of parliament and the issuance of supplementary constitutional declaration.

"Issuing a supplementary constitutional declaration is a necessary measure for this critical period of our nation", the SCAF said in a statement.

"The verdicts issued by the judiciary must be obeyed, and to disobey them is a crime which should be punished by law," the statement added.

The ruling council said the early announcement of the run-off round by candidates' campaigns was unjustified which led to the current division and disturbance.

Any attempt to harm public or private interests will be dealt with strictly and firmly by police and the army in line with law, the SCAF said.

Tens of thousands of protestors led by Islamists gathered in Tahrir Square in downtown Cairo on Friday, protesting against the declaration and the constitutional court's verdict to dissolve the People's Assembly (lower house of parliament).

The Muslim Brotherhood (MB), Salafists and youth groups jointed the so-called "one-million-man protest."

The presidential election commission delayed on Wednesday the announcement of the run-off results, originally scheduled for Thursday, because of the need for more time to review the 400 appeals submitted by both candidates.

MB's Mohamed Morsi and ex-Premier Ahmed Shafiq both claimed to have won the presidency. Morsi's campaign announced he got 52 percent of votes just six hours after the vote counting began. Shafiq campaign said the ex-general got 51.5 percent.

Morsi said in a press conference Friday that he held consultations over the coming cabinet and promised an independent patriotic prime minister leads a coalition cabinet.

Morsi also pledged independent vice presidents, including youth, women, and Christians.

In his first public statement, Shafiq on Thursday reiterated at a press conference that he was totally confident that he would be the legitimate president of Egypt.

The MB has protested the delay of the announcement of the results and warned a Shafiq victory would spark confrontation between the army and people.

On June 14, the Supreme Constitutional Court ruled the current parliament unconstitutional and dissolved it. The ruling military council issued a supplementary constitutional declaration after the parliament was dissolved.

According to the document, the SCAF will exercise legislative powers until a new parliament is elected. The constitutional declaration amendments gave the SCAF great powers.

The SCAF shall also form a new panel within a week to draft a new constitution within three months if a reason bars the current assembly from fulfilling its task.

The document said that the new constitution shall be put to referendum within 15 days after being drafted and new parliamentary elections shall be called within a month after the approval of the new charter.

The ruling military council affirmed that they will transfer power to the new elected president before the end of June.