The ruling Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF) invited several political powers to an urgent meeting on Tuesday to discuss the reasons for Egypt's deepening political crisis.
Informed sources said the meeting, scheduled to be held at the Defense Ministry headquarters at 12 pm, will bring together Field Marshal Hussein Tantawi, his deputy and potential candidates for the premiership following the resignation of Prime Minister Essam Sharaf's government on Monday.
The sources added that Coordinator for the National Association for Change Abdel Guelil Mostafa, Ain Shams University law professor Hossam Eissa and an activist are among the figures being considered for the position.
The same sources said the SCAF is excluding presidential hopefuls Mohamed ElBaradei and Abdel Moneim Abouel Fotouh from consideration.
However, Dostor news website said on Tuesday that the meeting will be followed by an announcement of the appointee to the premiership. It added that the most likely candidate for the position is ElBaradei.
ElBaradei had earlier said he would accept the position if he is empowered with the authority to make the necessary decisions.
State-run Al-Ahram newspaper said Tuesday that the SCAF had approved the cabinet's resignation in principle. It quoted a senior government source as saying that the ministers will resume their work until a new government is named.
The same source told the paper that the SCAF will mull potential options for the new cabinet after an urgent meeting is held with political and revolutionary groups later on Tuesday.
Presidential hopeful Mohamed ElBaradei has decided not to attend the meeting.
Independent Al-Shorouk newspaper’s website said ElBaradei apologized to the SCAF for not attending, saying he prefers to serve as a mediator between the military council and the protesters based in Tahrir Square.
The website also said that ElBaradei hoped any resolution that comes out of the meeting will be based on the demands of the protesters alone, adding that any decision about a new government, if unanimously approved, should be announced from the square.
