Egyptian military to hand over power when outright election winner appears

Egypt’s military is ready to hand over power to a new president after the first round of the vote on May 24, Egyptian Armed Forces Chief of Staff Sami Anan said on Wednesday.

That will happen if the first round produces an outright winner, he said.

“The Military Council is looking forward to the presidential election,” he said.

With 13 candidates in the running none are expected to garner more than 50 percent in the May 23-24 vote, which is likely to go to a run-off in June.

At least eleven people were killed and dozens injured earlier on Wednesday during riots outside the Defense Ministry in the center of Cairo. One of the main demands of the protesters is the speedy transfer of power from military to civilian rule.

State power has been in the hands of the Military Council since long-serving president Hosni Mubarak was toppled in February 2011. <Cihan/Ria Novosti>

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