Egypt’s top military council has given newly promoted army chief, Field Marshal Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, a green light to run for president, a security source told Reuters.
“The top army officials all okayed Sisi running for the presidency,” said the source. Sisi is expected to announce his
candidacy within days.
Sisi, who toppled Islamist president Mohamed Mursi last year only decided to run for president recently following growing pressure from the street from those who reject the Islamist
government he overthrew.
The announcement comes after 49 people were killed in weekend clashes on the third anniversary of the uprising that saw Hosni Mubarak deposed.
Many people in the streets showed their support for Egypt’s new military strongman.
But despite his present popularity, Sisi has no record as a democrat .. and has shown himself willing to use deadly force against those who disagree with him.
Many Egyptians hold Sisi responsible for the deaths of hundreds of Mursi supporters killed in a crackdown on his Muslim Brotherhood movement. Others see him as the kind of strong man needed to restore stability after three years of turmoil.
