Egyptian Defense Minister and military chief General Abdel Fattah al-Sissi warned on Tuesday that the political crisis rocking the country could lead to the collapse of the state.

Failure to resolve the situation "could lead to grave repercussions if the political forces do not act" to tackle it, Gen Sissi said in comments posted on his Facebook page.

"The continuing conflict between political forces and their differences concerning the management of the country could lead to a collapse of the state and threaten future generations," Gen Sissi said in the comments, which were extracts of a speech he gave to students at a military academy.

He further warned that the political, economic, social and security problems facing Egypt constitute "a threat to the country's security and stability".

The general stressed that "the attempts to undermine the stability of state institutions is a dangerous thing that harms national security and the future of the country," but stressed that "the army will remain strong...as a pillar of the state's foundations."

Fifty-two people have died in five days of violence that erupted Thursday night in Egypt as the country marked the second anniversary of the start of the uprising that toppled former president Hosni Mubarak.

Opposition groups accuse President Mohammed Morsi, the Muslim Brotherhood and other Islamists of monopolizing power in Egypt.

A curfew has been imposed in three provinces - Port Said, Ismailiya and Suez - but witnesses said thousands of demonstrators flooded the streets of the three Suez Canal cities Monday night in defiance of the curfews.

The bloodiest clashes and most of the deaths have occurred in Port Said, with rioting breaking out on Saturday after 21 supporters of a local football club were sentenced to death for their roles in a deadly football riot last year.

Clashes have also broken out daily in and around Cairo's Tahrir Square, although the capital's iconic hub of protest remained calm Tuesday morning.

The wreckage of a burned police car was still to be seen in the middle of the square. Protesters claim the vehicle was seized from near the US embassy and then brought to the square where it was set on fire.

A medic said that they had "treated many people who came with problems from tear gas or injuries caused by rubber bullets" resulting from clashes around the square on Monday night.

READ FULL SOURCE ARTICLE: 01/29/2013

Editor's Note: Good thing we gifted the Egyptian government with F-16s and armored personnel carriers...