Egypt el-Sissi apologises to sexual attack victim

Egypt's newly sworn-in president has apologised in person to a woman who was sexually assaulted by a mob during weekend celebrations marking his inauguration.

Local television networks showed a visibly moved Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi visiting the woman in a Cairo hospital.

"I have come to tell you and every Egyptian woman that I am sorry. I am apologising to every Egyptian woman," said el-Sissi, a former military chief who ousted the country's first elected president nearly a year ago.

Several women were assaulted during Sunday's inaugural festivities.

The attacks were a grim reminder of one of Egyptian society's darkest sides and coincided with el-Sissi starring in carefully choreographed ceremonies held at two of the capital's most opulent presidential palaces and attended by hundreds of local and foreign dignitaries.