Egypt army chief warns against slandering military

[April 12, 2013]  CAIRO (AP) -- Egypt's army chief has warned against slandering the military, denying the military committed any abuses against protesters during the turbulent transition of the past two years.

Gen. Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi spoke late Thursday following a meeting between the country's top brass and Islamist President Mohammed Morsi.

El-Sissi's comments come after media leaked parts of a report by a fact-finding mission commissioned by Morsi that documented abuses by the armed forces during its nearly 17-month rule after the 2011 fall of autocrat Hosni Mubarak. The report found that the army unlawfully detained protesters and was possibly involved in killings of some.

El-Sissi swore the military "didn't kill, didn't order any killings" since the uprising and warned against defaming the military.

Speaking alongside el-Sissi, Morsi said he won't allow such "slanders."

[Associated Press]

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