{{The army in Egypt has warned it will not allow the country to descend into “uncontrollable conflict”.}}<\/p>\n
The comments by army chief Gen Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi came a week ahead of planned mass protests by opponents of Islamist President Mohammed Morsi.<\/p>\n
He said the army was obliged to stop Egypt plunging into a “dark tunnel”.<\/p>\n
The remarks are seen as one of the strongest interventions since the army handed over power to President Morsi last year.<\/p>\n
At a meeting with soldiers on Sunday, Gen Sisi, who is also the country’s defence minister, said the army would “not remain silent as the country slides into uncontrollable conflict”.<\/p>\n
“There is a state of division in the society, and the continuation of it is a danger to the Egyptian state.<\/p>\n
“There must be consensus,” he stressed.<\/p>\n
Gen Sisi also met the president on Sunday for what an army spokesman described as a “routine” consultation, according to local media reports.<\/p>\n
Gen Sisi’s comments come as Egypt’s secular groups plan mass rallies ahead of the 30 June anniversary of President Morsi coming to power.<\/p>\n
The groups say they have gathered 13 million signatures on a petition calling for the Islamist leader to step down.<\/p>\n
On Friday, thousands of Mr Morsi’s supporters marched across the country – in a show of support for the president.<\/p>\n
The crowds chanted their allegiance, pre-empting the opposition demonstrations.<\/p>\n
Mr Morsi’s first year in office has been marred by constant political unrest and a sinking economy.<\/p>\n
Many analysts say the instability and a continuing threat of violence have frightened away foreign investors and tourists.<\/p>\n
There is increasing unemployment, particularly among the young, fuel shortages and a drain on reserves of foreign currency.<\/p>\n
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