Abdul Fattah al-Sisi dismisses IS claims

Egyptian President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi dismisses the claims by Islamic state that they were responsible för the downing of the Russian plane, as “propaganda”.

-When there is propaganda that it crashed because of ISIS, this is one way to damage the stability and security of Egypt and the image of Egypt, Sisi tells the BBC.

– Believe me, the situation in Sinai – especially in this limited area – is under our full control, he claimed.

Experts say the fact that debris and bodies were strewn over such a wide area points to mid-air disintegration of the aircraft.
On Monday, US Director of National Intelligence James Clapper said he could not rule out IS involvement in Saturday’s incident, but thought it “unlikely”.

– We don’t have any direct evidence of any terrorist involvement yet, he said.
Earlier on Monday the airline company said the plane had crashed due to “external” factors and ruled out any technical failure or human error in the disaster.
– The only explanation is some kind of external action, senior Kogalymavia executive Alexander Smirnov told a news conference in Moscow, without elaborating.

Analysis of the plane’s “black boxes”, which could solve the mystery of what happened to the doomed jet, is expected to begin on Tuesday, according to Egyptian officials.

Analysts have dismissed claims the jet could have been shot down if it was flying at its cruising height of 9,000 metres, but did not rule out that a bomb may have been planted on board.