Security has been intensified on Saturday at the Presidential Elections Commission amid speculation that former Vice President Omar Suleiman will soon be registering his presidential candidacy.
On Friday, Suleiman backtracked on a previous decision not to run for the presidency.
Suleiman, 74, served for years as Hosni Mubarak's head of military intelligence and the General Intelligence Services. Mubarak named him vice president in January last year during a massive popular uprising and attempted to transfer power to him before quitting in disgrace.
Security sources, meanwhile, said security was heightened in preparation for ending the nomination period on Sunday, and to handle any clashes that may break out after speculation that Islamist candidate Hazem Salah Abou Ismail may be disqualified from the race due to the alleged American nationality of his late mother.
The official campaign supporting Suleiman’s bid said on Friday that he will likely register on Sunday after all the required candidacy papers have been prepared. The campaign called on all supporters to go and register their signatures supporting Suleiman at the notary authority.
According to the Presidential Elections Commission website, fifteen other candidates have submitted their official applications, including former Arab League chief Amr Moussa, former Prime Minister Ahmed Shafiq and the Muslim Brotherhood’s Khairat al-Shater.
