CONFIRMATION OF MEETINGS BETWEEN ARMY AND OPPOSITION BEFORE COUP

      Cairo, 26 Ramadhan 1434/3 Agustus 2013 (MINA) – The head of Egypt’s Al-Wafd Party El-Sayed El-Badawi, has affirmed that the Egyptian army arranged the coup against Mohamed Morsi with opposition parties and politicians.

      A meeting took place a week before the coup at his house, said El-Badawi, attended by representatives of the Salvation Front and Colonel Al-Assar on behalf of General Al-Sisi, according to Middle East Monitor (MEMO) report quoted by Mi’raj News Agency (MINA).

      Writing on his Facebook page, El-Badawi claimed that the intention was not to confront the Muslim Brotherhood, “but when the Egyptian population, which is the source to give or withdraw authority, took to the streets, the military was obliged to take the side of the people.”

     This follows a lecture in Washington by prominent Egyptian politician Mona Makram Obaid who told the audience that the army had asked the opposition groups to issue a statement authorising the military to remove Morsi from office.

      Ever since the coup took place, opposition leaders and media commentators in Egypt have been insisting that the army only acted in response to the people of Egypt on the streets.(T/P014/E1)

Mi’raj News Agency (MINA)