President Mohamed Morsy met on Tuesday with Egyptian political and economic figures to brief them on the investigation of the attack on the Egyptian army at the border in Rafah, North Sinai.
The meeting was intended to inform political forces of the current situation, the ongoing search for the attackers, and preventative measures against further attacks, presidential spokesperson Yasser Ali said.
Interior Minister Ahmed Gamal Eddin and the head of military intelligence participated in the meeting, which was attended by Ghad al-Thawra Party head Ayman Nour, Wasat Party head Abul Ela Mady and spokesperson for the Jama’a al-Islamiya’s Construction and Development Party Safwat Abdel Ghani. Acting Freedom and Justice Party head Essam al-Erian and Central Bank President Farouk al-Oqda were also in attendance.
Morsy’s absence from the soldiers’ funeral was criticized on social networks. Ali said that the president did not want attendees to be affected by the increased security that would accompany his presence.
President Morsy preferred that the funeral be public, Ali said, adding that, “The grief inside the heart of every Egyptian and the heart of the president is felt by us all.”
Ali said that it is not yet clear if the assailants were Egyptian or foreigners as the information circulating about them is not complete or entirely accurate.
A joint operation room for all security bodies is working around the clock to apprehend the perpetrators, Ali assured, adding that the presidential office is closely following the investigation and will announce more information when it becomes available.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
