Egypt's Sisi announces run for presidency

Cairo (Egypt) (AFP) - Egyptian army chief Abdel Fattah al-Sisi said Wednesday he had quit the military to run for president and vowed to rid the country of "terrorism" almost nine months after he toppled its elected leader. Sisi, who was also defence minister, faces no serious competition in the election -- likely before June -- and is expected to win comfortably, riding on a wave of popularity for his law and order message. But the Muslim Brotherhood movement of president Mohamed Morsi, whom Sisi toppled in July, warned there could be no stability in Egypt under the "shadow" of his leadership. The Brotherhood and its allies have kept up their protests against the overthrow of Egypt's only freely elected president against a backdrop of mounting violence by militant groups that has killed scores of police and troops.

Continue reading...