<p>Ibrahim Abdel Khaliq, head of the Justice Ministry's Technical Office, denied media reports that the ministry had closed some Public Notary offices to prevent citizens from writing power of attorney notices authorizing Defense Minister Abdel Fattah al-Sisi to run the country.</p>
<p>Abdel Khaliq said in a statement Saturday that such reports were false and that the ministry had sent a memo to the head of the Public Notary saying that thre was no problem issueing such authorizations to anyone.</p>
<p>State-run News Agency MENA has acquired a copy of the letter sent by Justice Minister Ahmed Mekky to the head of the Public Notary sector on 28 February, stating that it is acceptable to issue such authorizations for Sisi and the Armed Forces.</p>
<p>The news comes amid reports of residents of the Suez Canal region requesting notices from notary offices authorizing Sisi or the Armed Forces to run the country instead of President Mohamed Morsy. Al-Masry Al-Youm had reported Saturday that notary offices refused to issue such notices.</p>
<p>According to reports, Tamer al-Gendy, coordinator of 25 January coalition, was the first to request such an authorization in Ismailia, but the head of the office there, Fatma Youssef, refused.</p>
<p><em>Edited translation from MENA</em></p>
