Dubai: Egypt's deputy prime minister and defence minister Abdul Fattah Al Sissi is expected to step down in the coming days to pave the way for his nomination in the upcoming presidential elections, Egyptian media reported.
Al Wafd newspaper reported that his exit will be part of a government reshuffle in the second half of January that will also see vice president Ziyad Baha’ Al Deen leave his post.
The paper cited "political sources with connections to ruling cirlces", adding that the country’s Supreme Council for the Armed Forces decided in a meeting on Tuesday to select Lt Gen Sidqi Subhi to replace Al Sissi as defence minister.
Pro-military channel CBC aired a breaking news report on Saturday night revealing that Al Sissi had decided to run for presidency.
Al Sissi orchestrated the military coup that ousted President Mohammad Mursi on July 3, in a move that has polarised the country. The military-installed government subsequently launched a fierce campaign against the Muslim Brotherhood, to which Mursi belongs, leading to violent clashes that are believed to have led to the death of more than a thousand civilians.
Prominent presidential hopefuls have lent their support to Al Sissi's candidacy, offering to drop plans to run if he decides to.
According to Egyptian media reports, Al Sissi is expected to announce his bid for the presidency following a referendum on the country’s new constitution.
