Field Marshal Mohamed Hussein Tantawi, Egypt's head of the ruling Supreme Council of Armed Forces, has stated that he said "nothing ‎but the truth” while testifying in the trial of toppled president Hosni Mubarak.‎          

It is widely believed that Tantawi’s testimony did not incriminate Mubarak in the ‎killing of peaceful protesters in the January 25 Revolution, although he earlier stated ‎that the army had refused to use live ammunition against demonstrators.‎

‎“I said nothing but the truth in my testimony,” Tantawi said while attending the ‎inauguration of a new industrial area in Fayoum. “The military forces didn’t receive orders to use live amunition against protestors and ‎would never have fired on the Egyptian people even if they were given orders to do so.”‎

Chief of Staff Sami Anan told the media that the army had rejected orders to fire ‎on civilians during the popular uprising.‎

Former commander-in-chief Mubarak is understood to be the only man who had the ‎authority to issue such orders.‎

‎“We [the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces] will lead the country to safety,” ‎Tantawi added.