The ruling military council said during a Thursday press conference it would abide by a previously established timetable to hand over power to civilians, despite what it described as “acts of sabotage” to derail the upcoming presidential election.
"What is taking place in Abbasseya Square is clear and known to us all, and nobody will be able to ruin the roadmap that aims to [achieve] the interests of Egypt," Major General Mokhtar al-Mulla, a member of the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces, said during the news conference at the State Information Service headquarters.
Following sporadic clashes at an Abbasseya sit-in near the Ministry of Defense and ahead of a march planned for Friday by the Revolutionary Socialists group, he warned protesters not to approach the ministry premises.
“We warn anyone carrying a weapon, we won’t allow anybody to assault symbols of the state and the armed forces," Mulla said. "The forces deployed around the Ministry of Defense intend to stop anyone from trying to reach the ministry."
Mulla ruled out the possibility of introducing amendments to the March 2011 Constitutional Declaration, which has governed Egypt during the transitional period.
"Article 28 of the Constitutional Declaration has the force of law and cannot be canceled by the force of bullying," he said, referring to a controversial article granting the Presidential Elections Commission immunity from court challenges.
Mulla reiterated previous assertions that the armed forces does not want a special position in the new constitution.
When a journalist present challenged him by saying Egypt was witnessing bloody massacres, he rejected the allegation.
Major General Mohamed al-Assar criticized rumors that the SCAF plotted the bloody events to retain power, saying, "After all [of the arrangements for a transfer of power], they say we are plotting for a military coup?
Assar said the military has worked hard to help the Egyptian people achieve a Parliament, a president and a constitution.
“After the handover of power, everyone will see that what has been said against the military was never true, and will recognize the historic role the SCAF has played,” he added.
The military does not support one candidate for president, and "international and regional powers are unhappy with the success Egypt has reached," he claimed.
Assar said the Abbasseya sit-in that began Friday is a “big mistake” due to its proximity to the Defense Ministry and other military institutions.
“It also affected schools, universities and hospitals in the area. That’s why we are saying that Tahrir Square is a suitable place,” he said.
Major General Mamdouh Shahin, the assistant defense minister for legal affairs and member of SCAF, said the Constitutional Declaration was not the reason for the recent violence. He added that the military council solicited the help of many constitutional experts when it was drafting the Constitutional Declaration, and that the articles included were essential to govern the transitional period.
