Sisi warns Egyptians after rare protests over metro fare hike

Egypt's president has warned people against taking part in demonstrations days after rare protests against the surprise decision to hike fares on the Cairo underground.

Abdel Fattah al-Sisi made the televised remarks on Wednesday, The New Arab's Arabic-language service reported.

"All of you have put me in charge of protecting Egypt. I am worried about it, scared that widespread protest action could affect the country," Sisi said.

"[Protesters] go home in the end and sleep at home, while they don't know the effects on the state and its stability, tourism industry and other sectors,"

He added that protests could lead to the country descending into chaos such as "other countries" - a common warning from Egyptian officials referring to war-torn Syria and Iraq.

Sisi also defended his government's decision to hike Cairo metro fares, which sparked rare protests in which 21 people were arrested.

Last week authorities more than tripled the standard fare from 2 to up to 7 pounds ($0.4) as part of austerity measures.

It was the second round of metro fare hikes since March 2017.

In recent years the government has slashed subsidies and allowed the currency to float, causing the prices of basic goods to soar.

The austerity measures have taken a heavy toll on poor and middle-class Egyptians.

A 2013 law bans all unauthorised protests.