No plan to declare state of emergency, claims presidency

The government has no intention of declaring a state of emergency, assured presidential spokesperson Ahmed al-Moslemany on Monday afternoon.

Moslemany held the news conference at the Ettehadiya Presidential Palace to respond to fears that were raised after interim President Adly Mansour delegated Emergency Law powers to Prime Minister Hazem al-Beblawi.

On Sunday Mansour mandated certain presidential powers to Beblawi, including three of the Emergency Law's articles. For instance, Beblawi was authorized to issue decrees that would grant the power of arrest to the Armed Forces.  

Moslemany claimed Mansour did so as part of the roadmap to achieving a civil state.

However, Moselmany also cautioned that events might occur which would require swift decisions to maintain national security. 

The country is facing organized terror attacks that are orchestrated to force Egyptian police forces and military out of Sinai, Moslemany alleged. He defined “terrorists” as those who launch armed attacks on police and army checkpoints.     

The presidential spokesperson also assured that the European Union’s foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton’s visit to Egypt did not represent any kind of “interference in local affairs,” and that Egypt was not facing any foreign pressure.

“The Egyptian decision is issued from the Egyptian house, not the White House,” he declared.

Moslemany added that the presidency expresses its sorrow for the victims of the violence that occurred in Nasr City early Saturday, and offers its condolences to their families.

In these ongoing confrontations, the presidency does not see “opposing teams,” but the issue would be dealt with by the prosecution and judiciary, Moslemany continued.