In a symbolic military parade in the Central Zone in al-Hāykstib area, the armed forces on Saturday (June 30) officially handed over power to Mursī as the first elected non-military president in sixty years.

The ceremony was attended by Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces and Chairman of the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF), Field Marshal Muhammad Husayn Tantāwī, Chief of Staff Lt. General Sāmī ‘Anān, SCAF members and senior army commanders.

Mursī, who gave an address on the occasion, praised the armed forces’ efforts and asked the army to continue their security preservation tasks until the rehabilitation of the civil police is fully completed.

Tantāwī also delivered a speech in which he thanked Mursī, terming Saturday (June 30) as “a great day in the history of the Egyptian people, expressing wishes of success for the elected president in his task.

“The armed forces, which took the sides of the people in their legitimate demands on January 25, 2011 and shouldered the responsibility of a very tough transitional period, will always be standing by the president elected by the people,” he said.

The army artillery fired 21-gun salvo to salute President Mursī while military helicopters flew overhead in the skies of the parade. [‘Alī Shām and Muhammad Fū’ād, al-Ahrām, July 1, p. 1] Read original text in Arabic