Egypt's army chief Abdel Fattah al-Sisi said Tuesday he could
not ignore demands that he run for president and will take official
measures soon, state media reported. Officials close to Sisi told AFP the recently
promoted field marshal would step down as Defence minister after a law
is passed to regulate the election expected this spring. Field Marshal Sisi emerged as the most popular
political figure in Egypt after he overthrew Islamist President Mohamed
Morsy in July following massive protests against the year-long rule of
Egypt's first freely elected leader.
Field Marshal Sisi Sisi said "he cannot turn his back when the majority wants his nomination in presidential
elections," the official Mena news agency reported. "The next days will witness official measures," it quoted him as saying. Field Marshal Sisi is seen by his supporters as a strong hand who can stabilise Egypt following three years of unrest ignited by the 2011 uprising that toppled longtime ruler Hosni Mubarak.
Supporters rallied in the thousands in January calling on Sisi to run, and the military itself has said it would back his decision to enter the election, which he is certain to win. Interim President Adly Mansour is expected to approve the election law this week or next week by the latest. Field Marshal Sisi is reviled by the Muslim Brotherhood and other Morsy supporters, who say he masterminded a coup against the country's first democratically elected and civilian president.
Source: Africa Review
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