Exclusive: Egypt's Ruler Rips Lack of US Support; "We Won't Forget US Turned Its Back on Egypt"

In his first interview since the overthrow of President Mohamed Morsi last month, Egypt's commanding general sharply criticized the U.S. response, accusing the Obama administration of disregarding the Egyptian popular will and of providing insufficient support amid threats of a civil war, the Washington Post website reports exclusively today (August 3, 2013).

"You left the Egyptians. You turned your back on the Egyptians, and they won't forget that," said an indignant Gen. Abdel Fatah al-Sissi, speaking of the U.S. government. "Now you want to continue turning your backs on Egyptians?"

Sissi is widely considered the most powerful man in Egypt, wielding more control than anyone over the country's direction after a tumultuous two and a half years in which the military has shoved aside two presidents following popular uprisings. He denied interest in running for president himself but did not rule it out.

Sissi spoke exclusively to the Washington Post on August 1 -- the same day that U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry made the administration's most supportive comments to date, saying that Egypt's army was "restoring democracy."