The head of the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces, Field Marshal Hussein Tantawi, said on Thursday, "There are paid elements attempting to drive a wedge between the people and armed forces, as well as inciting dissension within the armed forces." During his meeting with army leaders and officers, Tantawi said the armed forces would not allow outlaws to intimidate and terrorize peaceful citizens, or attempt to undermine the unity of the people and cause strife between Muslims and Copts. Tantawi went on to say, “The armed forces made the right decision during the 25 January revolution when it sided with the people's revolution by emphasizing that it belongs to the Egyptian people, although it had a number of options it could have taken." He added: “The current situation in the country compels us all to defend the country's stability and the gains achieved, in light of the implications and challenges it is facing, with priority given to the security vacuum and the prevalence of thuggery.” Tantawi stressed on the importance of the police returning to full strength and working in cooperation with the armed forces to enforce discipline and ensure security on the Egyptian street. Translated from the Arabic Edition
