The leader of the Islamist Ennahda Party in Tunisia has denied categorically that he may meet with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi or even welcome him to his country. Rachid Ghannouchi described Al-Sisi as a “dictator who staged a coup” and said that he is “not welcome” to visit Tunisia.

“I will not welcome him,” Ghannouchi told France 24 on Thursday. “I only greet or see off those I consent to, and I am not a member of the authority who must welcome him out of deference to protocol.” He added that, in his opinion, Al-Sisi is a dictator and he seized power by means of a coup. The veteran Islamist denied being asked to intervene to resolve the current situation in Egypt, stressing that the task of resolving the issue falls on the shoulders of the Egyptian people.