Excerpts from Washington Post interview with Egyptian Gen. Abdel Fatah al-Sissi

On Monday, the Washington Post conducted a rare interview with Egyptian Army Chief General Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, the first interview since the overthrow of president Mohamed Morsi.

Excerpts and quotes from the interview are pasted below:
Speaking on the US Government, Sisi said:

You left the Egyptians. You turned your back on the Egyptians, and they won’t forget that. Now you want to continue turning your backs on Egyptians?

Sisi suggested that the US government use their leverage with the Muslim Brotherhood and urge them to back down from the Cairo sit-ins. With regards to the military takeover, Sisi said:

I expected if we didn’t intervene, it would have turned into a civil war.

When asked about running for president, Sisi said he does not aspire for authority

The most important achievement in my life is to overcome this circumstance, [to ensure] that we live peacefully, to go on with our road map and to be able to conduct the coming elections without shedding one drop of Egyptian blood. When the people love you, this is the most important thing for me.

Read the rest of the interview at the Washington Post website.