TEMPO.CO, Cairo - Veteran Egyptian Diplomat Amr Moussa said on Tuesday that Egyptian army chief Abdel Fattah el-Sisi has decided to run for the presidency. El-Sisi's bid has been long expected, as he has already been given the green light by the Supreme Military Council to run, and he had indicated last month's successful referendum was a confirmation of public support.

Last week, in a lengthy interview with the Kuwaiti newspaper al-Siyasa, Sisi said he "would fulfill the people's demands to run for president." The report caused a stir among Egyptians, with many upset that the army chief first announced his decision to a foreign media outlet. To calm the situation, the military dismissed the report, stating that it was "merely journalistic speculation and not a direct statement from Field Marshal el-Sisi."

In a statement posted on Facebook, Egyptian military spokesman Ahmed Ali said that the decision would be "personally taken by el-Sisi in front of the great Egyptian people."

Constitutionally, the election must take place before April 18.

Egypt's last democratically elected leader Mohamed Morsi, was ousted by el-Sisi in 2013 after large public demonstrations against the Muslim Brotherhood's rule of Egypt.

AL ARABIYA | CHOIRUL