Al-Sisi Resigns, Announces Presidential Candidacy

Local Editor

Egypt's army chief Abdel Fattah al-Sisi said Wednesday he had he quit the military to run for president, in a widely anticipated move almost nine months after he Brotherhood leader and former President Mohammad Mursi was toppled.

In a televised statement, al-Sisi said he could not "perform miracles" and called on Egyptians to work hard to improve their country.
The 59-year old who deposed Mursi last year also said Egypt was threatened by terrorists and he would work to make a country "free of fear."

Al-Sisi, who was also defense minister, faces no serious competition in the upcoming election, likely before June, and is expected to easily win the poll.

The general had earlier met with military leaders on Wednesday to discuss his move, the state-run al-Ahram newspaper reported on its website.

According to Egyptian regulations, al-Sisi must resign from the army before standing in the election.
Since the overthrow of Mursi, the army has come down hard on Muslim Brotherhood, branding it a terrorist organization and sentencing hundreds of its members to the death penalty.

The authorities have yet to set a date for the presidential election. Leftist politician Hamdeen Sabahi, who came third in the 2012 election, is so far the only candidate to have stated his intention to run.
General Sedki Sobhi, who holds the post of chief of staff, is expected to replace al-Sisi as army chief and defense minister.

But Mursi's supporters have not given up their campaign of protests against his ouster. At least one person was killed on Wednesday in clashes between pro-Mursi students and police, the health ministry said.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team