Presidential hopeful Amr Moussa criticized attempts by some protesters to cross the barbed wire in front of the Defense Ministry to reach the ministry’s building during the clashes that broke out on Friday in Abbasseya.
State-run MENA news service quoted Moussa as saying during his visit to the industrial zone in Qoweisna, Monufiya, “I do not understand how some are attempting to break into the ministry. Where’s the state and what is the point of this invasion? What do those people want? Why enter the ministry? And in whose name? Everyone is starting to think that there is complete chaos in Egypt.”
Moussa, a frontrunner in the upcoming election, said protesters should stay away from a national institution like the Defense Ministry.
He added that he does not understand the point of such an “invasion” as the army has promised to hand over power on 30 June.
He said that as an Egyptian he does not accept this kind of behavior, accusing some of inciting the protesters to attack the ministry.
He said some are looking to serve their personal interests at the expense of the country.
“How could an Egyptian want to occupy the Defense Ministry?” he wondered, adding that those “rioting” close to the ministry were not revolutionaries.
Asked about calls to remove the government, Moussa said that those calling for the dismissal of the government are just trying to gain attention, particularly since the government will only remain in power for another four weeks.
Moussa led an opinion poll conducted last month by Al-Ahram Center for Political and Strategic Studies with 41.1 percent support among respondents, followed by moderate former Muslim Brotherhood member Abdel Moneim Abouel Fotouh with 27.3 percent.
