Sisi tells Egyptians: Don't listen to anyone but me

Egypt's president says he will "remove from the face of the Earth" anyone plotting to bring down the state.

As military chief, Sisi led the July 2013 overthrow of Mohammed Morsi, Egypt's first freely elected president

Egypt's president has said that unfair criticism of the government is contributing to attempts to bring down the state, telling Egyptians not to listen to anyone but him. On Wednesday, President Abdel-Fattah el-Sisi did not go into specifics in an address broadcast live, saying only that he would "remove from the face of the Earth" anyone plotting to bring down the state.


Sisi's government has faced a wave of criticism in recent weeks over alleged police brutality and other rights abuses, as well as its handling of the economy. The recently elected parliament, a 596-seat chamber, has been widely dismissed by critics as a rubber-stamp legislature.

The 'remedy'

Sisi said he knows the "remedy" for Egypt's problems. "Please, don't listen to anyone but me. I am dead serious," he said in a loud, angry voice. "Be careful, no one should abuse my patience and good manners to bring down the state.
 
"I swear by God that anyone who comes near it, I will remove him from the face of the Earth. I am telling you this as the whole of Egypt is listening. What do you think you're doing? Who are you?"