Mursi vows measures to ‘protect this nation’

CAIRO: Egypt’s president said yesterday he may take unspecified measures to “protect this nation,” two days after supporters of his Muslim Brotherhood and the opposition clashed in Cairo. At least 200 people were injured in the violence, some seriously, outside the headquarters of the Brotherhood, Egypt’s most dominant political group.
“If I have to do what is necessary to protect this nation I will, and I am afraid that I may be close to doing so,” Mursi said on Twitter, adding that “attempts to show the state as weak are failing.”
Mursi also warned that “appropriate measures” would be taken against politicians found to be behind Friday’s violence, regardless of their seniority. Anyone found to be using the media to “incite violence” will also be held accountable, he added. His tweets came hours after hard-liners staged a protest outside studios belonging to independent TV networks that are critical of the Egyptian leader.
Mursi’s tweets made no direct mention of the clashes but appeared to be a prelude to measures against the mostly liberal and secular opposition.
“I call on all political forces not to provide a political cover for violence, rioting and attacks on private and public property,” Mursi tweeted.