Prime Minister Hazem al-Beblawy denied news over replacing Defense Minister Abdel Fattah al-Sisi with Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces Sedqy Sobhy as a prelude for his nomination to presidency, ahead of a referendum on constitution on 14-15 January.
“These news are untrue. I never heard of it,” Beblawy told the privately-owned channel Tahrir. “No comment on this.”
In related news, informed military sources denied Sisi announced running for presidency.
Sources told Al-Masry Al-Youm on Saturday that Sisi had not decided yet about nomination.
Websites circulated news attributed to military sources saying Sisi will run for presidency.
Military Spokesperson Ahmed Mohamed Ali said in a statement on Facebook on Saturday that “military institution and its leadership do not depend in publishing its news or current or future events on unknown sources whose names differ among media channels. Armed forces are keen on informing the public directly with everything relate to it or its leadership in specific timing.”
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
