Egypt: US to Back Sisi Despite Calls for Human Rights Reforms

The US has said it will continue to work with the newly-elected government of Egyptian President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi but called for further human rights reforms in the country.

A White House statement said Washington was looking forward to working with the new President in order "to advance our strategic partnership and the many interests shared by the United States and Egypt".

US President Barack Obama is to speak with the former defence chief, the statement added.

However, the White House expressed concern at the human rights situation in the country with the vote held in what it called a "restrictive political environment".

"We have consistently expressed our concerns about limits on freedom of peaceful assembly, association, and expression and call upon the government to ensure these freedoms as well as due process rights for all Egyptians," it said.

Sisi won 96.9% of the vote in the presidential election held almost a year after he launched a coup to overthrow Muslim Brotherhood leader Mohamed Morsi.

The former general, who won against his sole competitor Hamdeen Sabbahi, was elected with 23.8 million votes.

The turnout in Egypt's 2014 presidential elections was 47.45%, which accounts for roughly 25 million people.

The White House statement continued by stating that the new government must show that it is committed to protecting the rights of all Egyptians, even those allied to Morsi.

"We urge the president-elect and the government to adopt the reforms that are needed to govern with accountability and transparency, ensure justice for every individual, and demonstrate a commitment to the protection of the universal rights of all Egyptians," it read.

"True democracy is built on a foundation of rule of law, civil liberties, and open political discourse."