Egypt's inaugurated Sisi says to seek 'reconciliation'

CAIRO

Egypt's new president Abdel-Fatah al-Sisi said on Sunday during his inauguration speech that he would seek "tolerance and reconciliation" with all Egyptians "except for those who have adopted violence."

"Those who killed innocent Egyptians have no place in its [future] path," al-Sisi said during his inauguration speech at eastern Cairo's al-Qubba presidential palace Sunday evening.

Al-Sisi, the former defense minister, led the army last July to remove elected president Mohamed Morsi, who hails from the Muslim Brotherhood, following protests against his single-year in office.

Since then, Egypt's military-backed government has sustained a severe crackdown on the group and its supporters, whom it accused of sponsoring a wave of attacks in the country.

Despite the Brotherhood's repeated denial of such accusations, the Egyptian government designated the group a "terrorist organization" last December.

In his speech, al-Sisi went on to assert that he will not allow "a parallel leadership to challenge the state's authorities,"

He added that "wiping out terrorism" and enhancing security is his top priority, as well as achieving social justice and fighting poverty.

In attendance of Ethiopian Foreign Minister Tedros Adhanom, al-Sisi tackled in his speech the longstanding crisis between Cairo and Addis Ababa over the latter's construction of a $6.4-billion hydroelectric dam on the upper reaches of the Nile River which Egypt fears would threaten its share of the Nile Water.

"I will not allow the Renaissance Dam to cause any crises," al-Sisi said. "If the dam symbolizes Ethiopia's right to development, the Nile symbolizes Egypt's right to life."

For his first presidential decree announced during Sunday's ceremony, al-Sisi awarded former interim president Adly Mansour – installed by the military following Morsi's overthrow – the Order of the Nile, Egypt's highest state honor.

Over 1200 figures, including foreign representatives, attended al-Sisi's inauguration ceremony on Sunday, state television reported.

Al-Sisi was sworn in for a four-year term by the Supreme Constitutional Court earlier today.

Al-Sisi, who had resigned his post as army chief to contest the presidential poll, has been officially declared Egypt's new president after winning almost 97 percent of the vote, according to Egypt's

www.aa.com.tr/en