Former Prime Minister Ahmed Shafiq officially launched his presidential campaign Wednesday with a rally for 3000 workers in Shubra.

Shafiq, who served under ousted President Hosni Mubarak, told those gathered at the rally that he had tendered his resignation to the military council three times when he was prime minister.

“I've been working hard for 50 years,” he said. “And I submitted my resignation when I found out that I could not achieve much under the circumstances at the time.”

He was well received by the workers, who gave him a standing ovation. His reception with the general public, many of whom see him as a symbol of Mubarak's regime, is likely to be less enthusiastic.

Shafiq vowed to work on improving the economy and eliminating the security vacuum.

“I'll do my best to achieve the objectives of the revolution,” he said.

Translated from the Arabic Edition