Sisi Resigns from Military Service, Announces Running for President

إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية W460

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 toppled the elected leader.

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 riding on a wave of popularity.

He declared his candidacy in a televised address.

His statement came after a meeting of top brass.

Before the meeting, the army chief gathered his belongings at his office in the defense ministry, the state-owned Al-Ahram newspaper reported on its website.

During the meeting, Mansour promoted army chief of staff Lieutenant General Sedki Sobhi, who is expected to replace Sisi as armed forces chief, to the rank of general, military officials said.

Sisi is easily the country's most popular political figure after he overthrew the freely elected but divisive Islamist president Mohammed Morsi in July.

He is riding on wave of nationalist fervor and demands for a firm leader who can restore stability after more than three years of turmoil since the overthrow of veteran president Hosni Mubarak.

But Morsi'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-Morsi students and police, the health ministry said.

In all, at least 1,400 people, mostly Morsi supporters, have been killed in violence since his overthrow.

Comments 10
Thumb chrisrushlau 26 March 2014, 17:08

Wildly rumored is the general's coming extended vacation in Saudi Arabia with his uncle, Idi Amin.

Thumb cedre 26 March 2014, 22:12

hhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

Missing ArabDemocrat.com 27 March 2014, 01:06

I guess, he is on his way to be sidelined by other generals.

Missing VINCENT 26 March 2014, 22:28

When you know what needs to be done, go for it, and those who oppose you either because your move goes against their selfish agenda or can't differentiate their right hand from left, are all "barghash".

Thumb tonyfarris. 27 March 2014, 03:19

Yes they agree with a leader who sentences 529 protesters to death in one day, even though these protesters are their own people LOL.

I would like to see your reaction if your leader sentences 529 protesters to death in your country in one day. The fact that you support dictatorship in any country shows your lack of logic.

Default-user-icon Rolfen (Guest) 27 March 2014, 04:43

Bring back Morsi

Missing mohammad_ca 27 March 2014, 16:32

lol hizbocrap supporters talking about sectarianism

Missing mohammad_ca 27 March 2014, 18:01

let's talk about a party that accepts only shia members and is run under wilayet elfaqih...that's everyday sectarianism.

Missing mohammad_ca 27 March 2014, 18:05

a supporter of the iranian regime denouncing sectarianism...a country run by an ayatollah hahahaha.

Missing mohammad_ca 27 March 2014, 16:33

this guy has the army on his side, he will take out everyone that opposes him in mass trial and massacres.