Egypt will officially announce within days a candidate to succeed Amr Moussa as head of the Arab League when his term ends in May.
Sources told German news agency DPA that three Egyptians are nominated for the post including Mostafa al-Fiqqi, former head of Parliament's Foreign Relations Committee, economist Hazem al-Beblawy and Vice Prime Minister Yehia al-Gamal.
Qatar has nominated former Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council Abdul-Rahman al-Attiyah for the post.
Egyptians have held the post since the Arab League's establishment because of the country's traditional leadership role in the region, as well as its position in the world. However, the league's charter does not require the post to be held by an Egyptian.
Amr Moussa's term will end on 15 May, and the potential presidential candidate had earlier announced that he would not seek another term.
The Arab League sent a memorandum in February to member countries asking them to nominate candidates.
