Egypt: Shafiq Respects Result, Urges Mursi to Provide Security
Eliminated presidential candidate Ahmed Shafiq said that professionalism requires all to respect the winner of the elections without any disputes.
On Sunday, the Presidential Elections Committee declared the Muslim Brotherhood’s Mohamed Mursi Egypt’s first democratically-elected president, ending a transition period ruled by a group of army generals.
Shafiq, who served as toppled President Hosni Mubarak’s last premier before his ouster, added on CBC that all Egyptians are on the same ship and must not argue for the ship to sail forward.
He thanked those who voted for him, promising to always be their servant, adding that while he has not thought of using their support in forming a political base, he is open to consider their suggestions.
Shafiq urged President Mohamed Mursi to prioritize returning security to the streets, even before solving the economic crisis. He explained that the security void does not allow for foreign investment as it leaves foreigners wary.
He pointed that while the vote results he had were different from those announced by the committee, he respects the official results. — Aswat Masriya (Cairo)