AL-SISI TAKES OATH OF OFFICE AS EGYPT'S PRESIDENT

Egypt's President Abdel Fatah Al-Sisi (Photo: AAP) — **Egypt’s President Abdel Fatah Al-Sisi** (Photo: AAP)

Cairo, 10 Sha’ban 1435/8 June 2014 (MINA) – Abdel Fattah el-Sisi has been sworn in as the president of Egypt at Cairo’s Constitutional Court, amid high security.

Sisi was declared the country’s president last week after winning 96.6 percent of the presidential vote, beating the only other contender Hamdeen Sabahi.

Cairo prepared for the inaguration by increasing security in the area, Al Jazeera quoted by Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA) as reporting.

“Cairo has announced a state of emergency across its institutions, and no breaks will be taken today and on Sunday,” Ahmed Sakr, the deputy governor of Cairo, said.

“This is for receiving guests who will attend the ceremony and the inauguration. We will welcome them and show them that Egypt is a country of security and stability.”

Turnout was recorded at 47 percent, lower than Sisi had called for, and despite the voting period being extended from two to three days. Sabahi won 3.09 percent of the vote.

The results, and the swearing in on Sunday, confirm the rise of Sisi, a retired field marshal, who has suppressed deposed President Mohamed Morsi’s supporters, promised to restore stability and the economy after three years of turmoil.

Several heads of state are among prominent personalities expected to attend the ceremony, the Reuters news agency reported.

Security forces set up their patrols ain the area to ensure that everything went well.

In another development, an Egyptian court on Saturday sentenced 10 Muslim Brotherhood supporters to death in absentia, news agencies said.

All 10 were assumed to be in hiding and were convicted on charges including inciting violence and blocking a major road north of Cairo after the army toppled Morsi in July last year.

The same court on Saturday postponed until July 5 the verdict in the trial of Muslim Brotherhood’s leader, Mohamed Badie, and scores of others for inciting violence that killed two people last summer.

Badie was one of thousands of the group’s supporters arrested in a crackdown following the removal of Morsi by the Egyptian army.

Badie is being tried in nearly 40 cases, all of which potentially carry the death penalty, and has already been sentenced to death in one case. (T/P09/E01)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)