CAIRO, Jan. 23 (Xinhua) -- Egypt's army, backed by the police, is beefing up security presence nationwide ahead of the eighth anniversary of the Jan. 25 uprising that overthrew longtime ruler Hosni Mubarak.
Field armies and military forces will be deployed to secure vital sites and major roads and thoroughfares, the army said in a statement on Wednesday.
There are no official celebrations to mark the 18-day revolt of 2011, which ended Mubarak's 30-year reign. Instead, the focus has so far been on celebrating Police Day, which, before the uprising, had long been celebrated on Jan. 25 to commemorate the police's role in protecting Egyptians under the British occupation.
Troops and police will be sent out on patrols to deal with any attempt to break the law, the army said.
Security will be tightened along the Suez Canal, a major global shipping route, and near the country's borders to forestall infiltration or smuggling attempts, the statement added.
"Combat groups will be on the streets along with rapid response units to counter any possible hostilities," the statement said.
Earlier in the day, Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi said the state will continue to carry out its duties on all levels, which involve combating terrorism, reinforcing the rule of law, empowering state institutions.
He made the comments in a speech at the Police Academy during a celebration on the occasion of the 67th National Police Day, which also coincides with the 8th anniversary of 25 January uprising.
Sisi said that the challenges faced by Egypt in recent years have been some of the most difficult in its modern history.
For the past few years, Sisi said, Egypt has faced great difficulties and challenges represented in attempts by "forces of darkness and evil groups to hinder our path and terrorize our safe society."
"To these evil forces I say that the Egyptian people, through wisdom developed over thousands of years and with their trust in the efficiency of their police and Armed Forces, are able to distinguish between right and wrong," the president added.
"I would like to salute on the occasion of the Jan. 25 revolution, through which the Egyptian people expressed their aspiration to build a new future for this country, where all of its people enjoy a decent life," Sisi said.
Before the president's speech, Minister of Interior Mahmoud Tawfik said the police will not tolerate anyone raising arms against the Egyptian people.
