Egyptian journalist claims Morsi 'undermined'

Egyptian journalist Mustafa Bakri has claimed that Defence Minister Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi refused the orders of President Mohammed Morsi to sideline Chief of Staff General Sedki Sobhi, after his controversial comments in Abu Dhabi. Speaking at an event in February, Sobhi said that the army does not intend to engage in Egyptian politics but could be forced to take on a role if Egypt's hectic domestic scene becomes more complicated. In a television interview, Bakri argued that al-Sisi's position was also under threat. "I cannot rule out the dismissal of Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi, because he is regularly being targeted by the Muslim Brotherhood regime, so that they can bring in someone who is on their side," he said. The Egyptian journalist asserted that the Bedouin tribes were not behind the abduction of seven Egyptian soldiers in North Sinai, adding, "Bedouins don't protest in this way. President Morsi needs to take responsibility for the lack of security in the region." Bakri said that he feared for the long-term future of Sinai as a part of Egypt, adding that further isolation of the region would open the doors for Israel to re-occupy.