Egypt's Cabinet Resigns, Clearing Way for General's Presidential Bid

Egyptian officials says move is bid to back al-Sisi, who must step down from position of defense minister in order to run for civilian office

Egypt's ruling cabinet is resigning, Prime Minister Hazem Beblawi announced Monday, in what is widely believed to be a move to clear the way for Army Field Marshal Abdel Fattah al-Sisi to run for the presidency.

"(The government) made every effort to get Egypt out of the narrow tunnel in terms of security, economic pressures and political confusion," stated el-Beblawi in a speech announcing the resignation of his cabinet.

Egyptian laws stipulate that al-Sisi, currently Egypt's defense minister, must resign his military position before officially becoming a civilian presidential candidate.

According to Reuters, an Egyptian official stated that al-Sisi did not want to appear to be the only person tendering his resignation. "This (government resignation) was done as a step that was needed ahead of al-Sisi's announcement that he will run for president," stated the official.

The state-run news outlet MENA reports that interim President Adly Mansour has requested Beblawi stay in his current role until the resignation is accepted and a new cabinet formed.

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