[An Nahar] Egypt's army chief Abdel Fattah al-Sisi stepped closer on Saturday to confirming a widely anticipated presidential bid, saying he would stand in elections if there was a popular demand, state media reported.And what are the odds of that?
Sisi is easily the most popular leader in Egypt after toppling Islamist president Mohammed Morsi
...the former president of Egypt. A proponent of the
One Man, One Vote, One Timeprinciple, Morsi won election after the deposal of Hosni Mubarak and jumped to the conclusion it was his turn to be dictator...
in July, and military officers have told Agence La Belle France Presse he had support within the army to stand in the election due to take place later this year.
His comments come just days ahead of a referendum on a new constitution, the first in a series of polls the military-installed government says will restore elected rule following Morsi's ouster.
"If I nominate myself, there must be a popular demand, and a mandate from my army," the state newspaper Al-Ahram quoted him as saying at a conference with Egyptian officials.
Although he enjoys wide support for toppling the unpopular Islamist, Sisi is reviled by Morsi's supporters for what they call a "coup" against Egypt's first freely elected president.