Egypt's Republican Guard will not attack citizens during weekend demonstrations, said Major General Mohamed Zaki, Republican Guard chief.
His forces would "perform duties to secure and protect the presidential regime, elected by the people," he added.
“Protesters and the Republican Guard forces are part of the whole people. The right of peaceful demonstration is ensured to all people to express their opinion peacefully."
"Republican forces will not allow any attempt to break into the presidential palace,” Zaki told Al-Masry Al-Youm.
Zaki revealed that his troops removed all concrete barriers on the streets surrounding the Ettehadiya presidential palace. The blockades were placed inside the walls instead.
“All streets surrounding the palace are open, so we won't impose a crackdown on store owners, inhabitants and traffic,” Zaki said.
Muslim Brotherhood officials meanwhile ruled out the possibility of a coup d’etat by the military against President Mohamed Morsy during the 30 June protests.
Brotherhood spokesperson Ahmed Aref said Egypt's army always stands by legitimacy. "We don't doubt this," he said.
He described calls by political forces on the armed forces to launch a coup against Morsy as "malicious".
“Ongoing coordination among the military leadership with Defence Minister Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and [President] Morsy on top is clear to everyone," he added.
Farid Ismail, member of the Muslim Brotherhood-affiliated Freedom and Justice Party’s supreme body, echoe claims the armed forces supported legitimacy – embodied in the one-year-old rule of President Mohamed Morsy.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
