Salafi preacher and former presidential candidate Hazem Salah Abu Ismail said that the current political landscape will only be resolved by a powerful confrontation between Islamists on one side, and the opposition, including secular and liberal forces, on the other.

Abu Ismail warned that this confrontation may be “devastating.”

In an interview with Assyasy magazine on Thursday that Egypt is undergoing a stage of sectarian struggle, deliberately stoked by the opposition forces.

He said that the opposition stirring sedition in the Egyptian street in order to cause division will “lead to the destruction of the entire country.”

Abu Ismail said that in spite of his fear, these confrontations are a necessity.

Egypt is on the verge of violent conflict between Islamists and the opposition, which includes not only revolutionaries, but the remnants of the past regime and those hired to seek to destroy Egypt, he said.

Abu Ismail went on to describe the “controversial alliance,” as having “a disease that prompts them to make Egypt live in a state of chaos.” Their only goal and vision, he declared, is creating chaos.

“But we will defend the country with all our power, and if they try to incite violence, it is they who will lose,” he said.

President Mohamed Morsy did not met with a number of political figures, Abu Ismail said, but not him, “Morsy meets with those who stand against him, in order [for him] to solve national problems, and this does not apply to me.”

Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm