Egypt's president says criticism threatens the state

Egypt's president said Wednesday that excessive criticism of the government is contributing to attempts to bring down the state, telling Egyptians not to listen to anyone but him.

President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi did not go into specifics in an address broadcast live, saying only that he would "remove from the face of the Earth" anyone plotting to bring down the state.

"Please, don't listen to anyone but me. I am dead serious," he said sharply. "Be careful. No one should abuse my patience and good manners to bring down the state.

"I swear by God that anyone who comes near it, I will remove him from the face of the Earth," he said, then added, seeming to address those conspiring against the state, "What do you think you're doing? Who are you?"