Egypt’s interim president meets with army chief, ‘rebel’ campaigners

Egypt’s interim president on Saturday held talks with the army chief, interior minister and members of the ‘rebel’ (Tamarod) campaign, which sparked last week’s protests leading to the ouster of Islamist President Mohammed Mursi.

The talks followed overnight clashes across the country that killed at least 36 people and wounded over 1000.

Adly Mansour met with army chief Gen. Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi, who is also the defense minister, as well as Interior Minister Mohammed Ibrahim, who is in charge of the police, at the Ittihadiya presidential palace Saturday, The Associated Press reported.

An Al Arabiya correspondent also reported that the interim leader was also meeting with representatives from grassroots movement “Tamarod.”

This was the first time Mansour has worked out of the president’s main offices since he was sworn-in Thursday as the country’s interim leader.

The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to brief the media, AP reported.

Mansour was appointed following the army’s decision to oust the Islamist president.

On Friday, Mansour issued a decree dissolving the upper house of parliament.

The Shura Council – upper house of parliament – remained active following the dismantling of the lower house by the army-led authorities before ousted Mursi was elected in 2012.

(With AP)