CAIRO - The Muslim Brotherhood's Mohamed Morsy said on Monday after his
group declared him winner in a presidential race that he would be a
president for all Egyptians and said he would not "seek revenge or
settle scores."
Morsy was speaking at a news conference after the
Brotherhood declared he had won 52.5 percent of the vote compared to
the 47.5 percent secured by his rival, ex-military man Ahmed Shafik,
with almost all votes counted. Shafik's campaign challenged the result.
"Thanks
be to God who has guided Egypt's people to the path of freedom and
democracy, uniting the Egyptians to a better future," Morsy said.
He promised that as president he would not "seek revenge or settle scores."
He
pledges to serve both those who voted for him and those who did not and
also vowed to seek justice for those killed in the uprising that
toppled Hosni Mubarak last year. More than 850 people died in the
uprising, and dozens more have in violence since then.
"To all
the martyrs and to their families ... I pledge to return their rights
through law and in a law-abiding nation," Morsy said, speaking at the
Cairo headquarters of the Brotherhood's Freedom and Justice Party.
Brotherhood officials said the results were initial because there were still appeals to be filed.
"We
are reaching out to Shafik's campaign to end the elections race and
competition and to part amicably as friends," Morsy campaign official
Yasser Ali said.
But shortly before the final result the generals
who have run the country since the overthrow of Mubarak issued new
rules in a constitutional declaration outlining the president's powers
that made clear real power remains with the army.
"We will sit
with the military council to discuss the constitutional decree
amendments which we refuse fully and will go to Tahrir Square next
Tuesday to protest against these amendments," Ali said.
He also said Morsy would only accept to swear an oath before the parliament that was dissolved by a court order last week.