Interim Leader Adli Mansour has issued a presidential decree ordering the removal of a phrase from the army oath whereby army officers swear loyalty to the president.
The first article of the decision stipulates that new armed forces officers should take the following oath: "I swear to god to be a loyal soldier to the Arab Republic of Egypt, to keep it safe and secure, to defend it on land, in sea and air, inside and outside the republic, to obey military orders, to carry out my leaders’ orders, to maintain my weapon and not to leave it until I die."
The decision was published in the official gazette on Wednesday.
The suspended Egyptian constitution states that the president is the supreme commander of armed forces.
The military deposed ex-President Mohamed Morsy in July as mass rallies were staged against his rule.
The constitutional declaration issued in July states that the interim president has the power to appoint civilians and military personnel and dismiss them according to law. It also stipulates that he cannot announce war without consulting the supreme council of armed forces.
