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Ex-Egyptian army chief says “the people” removed Mursi | ASHARQ AL-AWSAT English Archive 2005 -2017
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People celebrate at Tahrir Square with a portrait of Army chief Abdel Fattah al-Sisi after a broadcast confirming that the army will temporarily be taking over from the country’s first democratically elected president Mohammed Morsi on July 3, 2013 in Cairo. AFP PHOTO / KHALED DESOUKI


People celebrate at Tahrir Square with a portrait of Army chief Abdel Fattah al-Sisi after a broadcast confirming that the army will temporarily be taking over from the country's first democratically elected president Mohammed Morsi on July 3, 2013 in Cairo. AFP PHOTO / KHALED DESOUKI

People celebrate at Tahrir Square with a portrait of Army chief Abdel Fattah al-Sisi after a broadcast confirming that the army will temporarily be taking over from the country’s first democratically elected president Mohammed Morsi on July 3, 2013 in Cairo. AFP PHOTO / KHALED DESOUKI

Cairo, Asharq Al-Awsat—The former head of the Egyptian army dismissed claims by the Muslim Brotherhood that yesterday’s deposition of President Mursi amounted to a military coup in an interview with Asharq Al-Awsat.

Former deputy director of the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF) and former army chief-of-staff, Lieutenant-General Sami Anan told Asharq Al-Awsat that that Egyptian people have made their choice, and that everyone should accept it.

Anan congratulated the Egyptian people on “taking back their revolution,” adding that “this is a celebration for all Egyptians following the efforts of the armed forces and all government institutions.”

He also congratulated the armed forces and the police force, saying that they had proved that they were part of the Egyptian people.

Anan, who played a major role during the Military Council rule in Egypt after the 25 January revolution, was ordered to retire by Mursi in the same announcement that removed Field Marshal Hussein Tantawi, the former head of SCAF, as defense minister and sent him into retirement in August of last year.

Anan said: “recent events in Egypt are historic and what Egyptian people did, should be a model to be followed by others.”

In reply to the possibility of reprisal attacks by Islamic groups against Egyptians, he said “no one could take away from the people their joy and their revolution,” adding that “as long as there are strong leaders in the armed forces, and in the police force and the judiciary, no one can harm the Egyptian people.”

He said “the future in Egypt will be bright because people have shown they will not be oppressed and will not be marginalized, and that the final decision will always be with them.”

In response to Mursi’s claims that this was a military coup against a legitimate government, he said: “the people gave Mursi legitimacy, and they took it away from him, and that proves this was not a military coup. When people decide what they want, everyone should listen, and that is what the armed forces did.”

He added that the volume of people who took to the streets has never been seen before, and that whoever claimed this was a military coup, will not be able to fool the people.

Regarding the speculation that he intended to run for president, Anan said it was too early to talk about that, but that “he would be happy to participate in any future reconciliation committees to help the conciliation efforts between all parties.”

Meanwhile, Amr Mousa, head of the Conference Party and former Arab League chief, responding to Mursi’s claims that this was a military coup, said: “no one thinks that and I do not think anyone will answer his call and stand against people’s aspiration,” adding that “forming a technocratic government is a great idea because the last government was weak [in this regard].”