State could collapse if crisis continues: Egypt minister

An Egyptian protester prepares to throw a tear gas canister at riot police during clashes in Cairo on January 28, 2013.  By Mohammed Abed (AFP)

An Egyptian protester prepares to throw a tear gas canister at riot police during clashes in Cairo on January 28, 2013. By Mohammed Abed (AFP)






CAIRO (AFP) – Egyptian Defence Minister General Abdel Fattah al-Sissi warned on Tuesday that the political crisis rocking Egypt could lead to the collapse of the state.

Failure to resolve the situation “could lead to grave repercussions if the political forces do not act” to tackle it, Sissi said in comments posted on his Facebook page.

“The continuing conflict between political forces and their differences concerning the management of the country could lead to a collapse of the state and threaten future generations,” Sissi said in the comments, which were extracts of a speech he gave to students at a military academy.

Sissi, who is also the head of Egypt’s military, further warned that the political, economical, social and security problems facing Egypt constitute “a threat to the country’s security and stability”.