An Egyptian Salafi leader has claimed the country's ousted president, Mohamed Morsy, did not apply Sharia, explaining why jihadi groups did not join legitimacy protests following the 3 July coup.

“We didn’t take part in protests supporting legitimacy because Morsy didn’t apply Sharia. How can the Salafi Jihadi members support him?" Salafi Jihadi movement leader, Morgan Salem, tol Al-Masry Al-Youm..

Salem claimed the army had instigated a confrontation with the Egyptian people.

He meanwhile denied his group's involvement in ongoing violence in Sinai.

“Although we disapprove of military rule, this doesn’t mean we accept assaults on the army,” Salem said, adding that Egypt had made many enemies.

Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm