Egypt's military ruler has warned of "extremely grave" consequences if the country does not pull through its current crisis, and urged voters to turn out for landmark parliamentary elections starting on Monday. Field Marshal Hussein Tantawi, who heads the governing Supreme Council of Armed Forces (SCAF), claimed on Sunday that "foreign hands" were behind the current turmoil.
In comments carried by the nation's official news agency, Tantawi rejected calls for him and other generals on the SCAF to step down immediately. Tantawi also promised the creation of a 50-member advisory council that would advise the SCAF. More on Al Jazeera English (video)