Sources close to the National Alliance to Support Legitimacy said closed-door discussions have taken place between alliance leaders on its position from the presidential elections following indications about the nomination of Defense Minister Abdel Fattah al-Sisi for president.
The sources said on condition of anonymity there was an agreement within the alliance to announce boycotting the elections only apparently, and back a candidate against Sisi in secret, Al-Masry Al-Youm reported.
The sources pointed out that former Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces Sami Anan was closer to being the secretly-backed candidate as he had supporters in the armed forces.
"The [Brotherhood's] leaders abroad have strong insistence to back Anan and are coordinating with the US administration for that, especially since Anan has strong ties with the US," Al-Masry Al-Youm quoted the sources as saying.
The sources said that former presidential hopeful Abdel Moneim Abouel Fotouh was a possible choice for the Alliance to be the secretly-backed candidate but has been excluded for his former hostile situation toward toppled President Mohamed Morsy and for supporting 30 June protests. Former presidential hopeful Mohamed Selim al-Awa has been excluded as well due to his low probability of winning the elections, the sources added.
Self-proclaimed expert on Islamic movements Ahmed Ban said that the National Alliance is planning to support Anan as that would cause a division in the armed forces.
Ban says that the US supports Anan, who has been maintaining good relations with the American administration since he was appointed Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces. Ban cites the fact that Anan was in the US when the 25 January revolution as clear evidence of US involvement.
He claims that the US does not welcome the nomination of Sisi in the upcoming presidential election, and therefore the Muslim Brotherhood and the US must surely be meeting together, presumably to plan destruction and chaos in Egypt.
Ban's claims are one of many examples of Egyptian political figures who frequently cite conspiracy theories to sway public opinion in their favor by portraying Egypt as under attack by foreign elements and Western governments.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
