Sisi: Egypt will not return to pre-revolution state

During a Cabinet meeting on Wednesday, Defense Minister Abdel Fattah al-Sisi said he rejects the re-emergence of what he called "the old faces" on the political arena, Al-Masry Al-Youm quoted a government source as saying Friday.

The general added that Egypt will not go back to how it was before January 25, the privately owned newspaper reported.

The source, who asked to remain anonymous, added that the Cabinet discussed the issue of Egypt's young people boycotting last week's constitutional referendum.

The source said ministers explained it as a result of the current harsh criticism the revolution and its youth are facing, adding that, "the youth sense the return of some of the old Mubarak regime figures." Sisi reportedly responded that "those who believe that Egypt is going backward are wrong."

A senior official met with a number of satellite TV channel representatives earlier last week to explain that the state is against the smearing of the January 25 revolution and its youth, Al-Masry Al-Youm added.

Following the arrest of prominent activists Alaa Abd El Fattah, Ahmed Maher and Ahmed Doma, a media campaigns surfaced in the last few weeks aiming to smear the reputation of several April 6 Youth Movement members and prominent activists.

Abdel Rehim Ali, host of TV show "The Black Box," has been airing recordings in recent weeks of personal phone conversations between activists including Asmaa Mahfouz, former MP Mostafa al-Naggar, Wael Ghoneim and others.

Prime Minister Hazem al-Beblawi has condemned the leaks, describing them as "a violation of law."