Egypt's Sisi opens New Suez Canal, says to defeat terrorists

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi stands in boat on the Suez Canal as he attends the celebration of an extension of the Suez Canal in Ismailia, Egypt, August 6, 2015. REUTERS/The Egyptian Presidency/Handout via Reuters

ISMAILIA, Egypt (Reuters) - Egypt received a show of international support on Thursday as it inaugurated a major extension of the Suez Canal which President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi hopes will power an economic turnaround in the Arab world's most populous country.

The former armed forces chief, who led a military takeover two years ago but ran for president as a civilian last year, told a ceremony attended by French, Russian, Arab and African leaders that Egypt would defeat the terrorism that dogged the project.