Egypt's army chief slams US for not providing sufficient support post-Morsi's fall

Egypt's commanding general has sharply criticized the U.S. response following the overthrow of President Mohammed Morsi last month.

In his first interview since Morsi's ouster, General Abdel Fatah al-Sissi accused the Obama administration of disregarding the Egyptian popular will and of providing insufficient support amid threats of a civil war.

According to the Washington Post, Sissi is widely considered the most powerful man in Egypt, wielding more control than anyone over the country's direction.

On Thursday, he gave his most detailed explanation of why he decided to oust Morsi, the nation's first democratically elected president.

Sissi also expressed deep disappointment that the United States has not been more eager to embrace his rationale.

According to the report, his comments are a measure of just how thoroughly the Obama administration has alienated both sides in a profoundly polarized and unsettled Egypt, all while trying to remain neutral.

Since Morsi's ouster, U.S. officials have cautioned Sissi and other generals to show restraint in their dealings with protesters, at least 140 of whom have been killed in clashes with security forces.

The Obama administration has also encouraged the military to reconcile with the Muslim Brotherhood.

Like many pro-military Egyptians, Sissi appeared angry that the United States has not fully endorsed what he described as "a free people who rebelled against an unjust political rule."

He said that Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel calls him 'almost every day,' but President Barack Obama has not called even once since Morsi's ouster.

He suggested that if the United States wants to avoid further bloodshed in Egypt, it should persuade the Muslim Brotherhood to back down from the Cairo sit-ins it has maintained since July 3, the report added.