CAIRO
An Egyptian journalist with close links to the military has said that Defense Minister Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi was likely to announce his candidacy for the presidency on Tuesday or Wednesday at the latest.
"Al-Sisi will announce plans to run in upcoming presidential elections – in response to the public will – within hours," Mustafa Bakri told Anadolu Agency on Tuesday.
According to Bakri, the announcement will be made on Tuesday or Wednesday at the latest after al-Sisi tenders his resignation as defense minister.
"The announcement will be made in a televised address aired on Egyptian television," he said. "It won't take more than 15 minutes, in which he will review his vision for solutions to Egypt's everyday problems."
Al-Sisi, for his part, widely seen as the driving force behind last July's ouster of president Mohamed Morsi by the army, has remained tight-lipped as to whether he plans to vie for top office.
But speculation has been rife that he would soon resign his military post to make way for a presidential bid.
No date has yet been set for presidential polls, but they are expected sometime within the next three months.
Presidential elections represent the second step in an army-imposed roadmap for political transition, unveiled in the wake of Morsi's overthrow.
By Hagar al-Dosoki
englishnews@aa.com.tr
