Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi will discuss amendments to the 1979 peace treaty with Israel to ensure Egypt's full sovereignty over the Sinai Peninsula, the president's legal adviser claimed on Tuesday.
In an interview with al-Masry al-Youm, Mohamed Jadallah said there was no conflict between Morsi and the Higher Military Council. He stressed that none of the military leaders intervened in the election of the new defense minister and chief of staff and that the president had the prerogative to make changes in the top military brass.
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Earlier, a source close to the Higher Military Council told the London-based al-Hayat newspaper that Morsi had consulted with General Mohamed Hussein Tantawi before announcing his dismissal .
The president reportedly also consulted with UN chief Ban Ki-moon on the matter. According to the report, the two decided that no Higher Military Council official would be indicted.
The source said that Morsi had tasked the new defense minister with reassembling the council and electing new commanders for the navy, air force, military intelligence and military police. He expressed hope that these changes would lead to an attempt to change the Israel peace treaty.
Meanwhile, the Palestinian Maan news agency reported that Egyptian security forces have obtained documents and blueprints belonging to terrorist organizations.
It was also reported that Egyptian forces continue to cleanse Sinai of Islamist terrorists amid heavy fighting.
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