President Mohamed Morsi warned Central Security Forces (CSF) officers and conscripts of rumours spread by foreign enemies and designed to cause disunity.
Morsi, who delivered speech on Friday at the CSF command centre in Darassa, thanked the police and the military for their role in securing the country.
“The military and the police are two wings of security protecting the nation domestically and on its borders. The first crossing was in 1973 and the police also played a part. The second was the 25 January revolution,” Morsi told a crowd of hundreds.
The president expressed to the audience, most of them being conscripts, his appreciation for what they do and reminded them that 25 January is both the anniversary of the revolution and National Police Day in Egypt.
“You all know that the nation is going through a difficult period, but God willing through the cooperation of the police and the military we will get through this,” said Morsi.
He warned the conscripts of rumours designed to sow discord between the presidency and the police, vowing to “protect you from rumours just as you protect the nation”.
Morsi ended with a prayer, asking God to aid the police in their responsibilities to protect the country and guide it through the difficult the current crisis.
The president then performed Friday prayers with the conscripts as well as Minister of Interior Mohamed Ibrahim and several high-ranking police officials.
Morsi’s visit to the CSF comes after nationwide police strikes and demonstrations against their use to achieve political ends.
Conscripts were complaining that the government is using them in the face of opposition protesters as well as not supplying them with sufficient weapons to protect themselves.
Several policemen closed down police stations in protest, and even demanded the removal of the interior minister.
