AP Interview: Egypt's leader says country in 'ferocious war,' some nations face 'failure'

In this picture taken Friday, Sept. 25, 2015, provided by the office of the Egyptian Presidency, Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi, left, shakes hands with German Chancellor Angela Merkel during the meetings of the UN General Assembly in New York. The two discussed bilateral relations and the latest developments in Egypt, the Egyptian presidency said. (Egyptian Presidency via AP) MANDATORY CREDIT (The Associated Press)

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi answers questions during an interview, Saturday, Sept. 26, 2015, in New York. Sisi discussed various issues including Egypt's role in the Middle East, his country's work on an expansion project to the Suez Canal, and relations with the United States. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson) (The Associated Press)

Egypt's President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi has said in an interview that the Mideast region must cooperate to defeat a worsening terrorist threat that has led to "ferocious war" in his country and some countries "sliding into a vicious cycle of failure."

In a wide-ranging interview with The Associated Press, el-Sissi also said Syria should not be divided after its civil war, the Egyptian military needs to be "augmented" to defeat terrorists, and that efforts must be renewed to solve the Palestinian issue. He also said Egypt's nearly 40-year-peace with Israel should include more Arab countries.

Resolving the Palestinian question, he said, would "change the face of the region and ... bring about enormous improvement to the situation. ... I'm optimistic by nature and I say that there is a great opportunity."