20120624
Press TV
Egypt ruling military council has warned of using of force against protesters who have gathered in Cairo’s Liberation Square to protest the army’s grip on power.

The Supreme Council of Armed Forces (SCAF) warned on Friday that the army will “deal firmly” with what it called attempts to harm public interests.

"Protecting the status of state institutions is a national responsibility for all: any attack on them threatens the stability and national security of Egypt," AFP quoted a SCAF statement read on state television.

"Any attempts to harm public or private interests will be confronted with utmost firmness and strength by the police and armed forces within the law," it said.

The words of warning come at a time when thousands of people are holding a sit-in protest in the capital’s iconic Liberation Square against what they call a power grab by the army that has divided the nation.

But the junta also criticized the presidential candidates for their giving early election result, claiming that releasing unofficial poll results has caused divisions among the nation.

"The early release of the presidential election results, before the announcement by the responsible body, was unjustified and is one of the main reasons for divisions and tensions in the political arena," SCAF said.

The powerful Muslim Brotherhood declared victory for its candidate Mohammed Morsi, providing what it said was certified copies of ballot tallies to bolster its claims.

The campaign for rival Ahmed Shafiq, the last premier under ousted dictator Hosni Mubarak, also claimed victory.

A delay in the run-off results, which had been due on Thursday, has raised widespread suspicions that the result is being negotiated rather than counted.

Many fear that the delay is the army’s move to declare former premier Shafiq the winner.