Egyptian presidential favourite Abdel Fattah al Sisi, who ousted the country's Islamist leader Mohamed Morsi from power, has said the Muslim Brotherhood is "finished". Speaking in his first television interview of his electoral campaign, he said: "I want to tell you that it is not me that finished (the Brotherhood). You, the Egyptians, are the ones who finished it." The country has been in turmoil for much of the past three years. Mass protests got rid of autocrat Hosni Mubarak in 2011 and elections followed a year later. Mr Morsi assumed office as Egypt's first freely elected and civilian president. But he was in office for little more than a year when he too was removed. Since then the military-backed interim government has waged a crackdown on his Muslim Brotherhood party, declaring it a terrorist group - a claim which it denies. And Mr al Sisi repeated the allegations during Monday's broadcast, accusing the Brotherhood of links to violent militant groups. The 59-year-old former head of the army, who is expected to win the May 26-27 poll, also revealed two plots to assassinate him had been uncovered. Hundreds of people have been killed and thousands arrested since the Muslim Brotherhood was banned. Last week, a judge sentenced the group's spiritual leader, Mohammed Badie, and 682 supporters to death in a mass trial. More than 1,200 people have been accused of attacking both police and public property after security forces broke up two Cairo protest camps set up by supporters of Mr Morsi last August. The former president is on trial in Minya in three separate cases, including one for inciting the killing of protesters outside a presidential palace during his time in office. Mr Mubarak is also on trial facing charges of inciting, agreeing to, and aiding in the killing of protesters during the January 25 revolution. He is also charged with "spreading chaos in the country, creating a security vacuum", wasting public funds and illegally exporting oil. Egyptian media have been portraying Mr al Sisi as the only person capable of running the country. The only other candidate running for the presidency is leftist politician Hamdeen Sabahi, who came third in 2012. Egypt's Al Sisi: Muslim Brotherhood Is 'Finished' Egypt's Sissi: Muslim Brotherhood, Morsi are 'Finished' Egypt's Sisi says Muslim Brotherhood is finished Ex-General Vows to End Brotherhood if Elected Egypt's Military Strongman: Saviour Or Dictator? Egypt's el-Sisi vows to finish off the Muslim Brotherhood if elected I support the protest law to protect the state, El-Sisi says The Brotherhood threatened me with foreign fighters, El-Sisi says 'I ran for Egypt president to save the state,' says El-Sisi Egypt's El-Sisi says faced two assassination attempts Yes, I will finish the Muslim Brotherhood if I am president, El Sisi says Egypt's Former Military Chief El-Sissi: "Muslim Brotherhood Will Not Return" Egypt's Sisi vows Brotherhood 'won't exist' Egypt's el-Sissi: Brotherhood will not return Egypt's Sisi: I must be an example to Egyptians 'in every way' Muslim Brotherhood is finished: Sisi Egypt's Abdel Fattah al-Sisi says Muslim Brotherhood is finished, confirms ... Sisi says if elected there will be no Brotherhood in Egypt In a league of his own: Sisi is not the heir to Nasser's legacy Egypt won't be an 'isolated state': FM Fahmy A town of rutted roads is one of Egypt's most troublesome flash points Sisi says there will be no Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt if elected Egypt's el-Sissi: Brotherhood will not return Abdel Fattah Al Sisi President,Morsi,Abdel Fattah Al Sisi Egypt Army,Egypt Abdel Fattah Al Sisi,Egypt President,Abdel Fattah Al Sisi,Egypt Army Intervention,Egypt Army Chief,Egypt,Egypt Army,Egypt President Mohamed Morsi,Mohamed Morsi Abdel Fattah El Sisi,Muslim Brotherhood Is Finished,El-Sisi,Egypt,Sabahi,Egypt Election,Sissi Tv Interview,Egypt Presidential Election,Sissi,Egypt El Sissi,Egypt Sissi,Ex-General Vows,End Brotherhood,Muslim Brotherhood END,Egypt's el-Sisi vows,finish off Muslim Brotherhood, Military Chief El-Sissi,Brotherhood in Egypt,Abdel Fattah Al Sisi Egypt Army,finished Muslim Brotherhood,Brotherhood will not return,Egypt president,

• published: 06 May 2014
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