Egypt army says won't propose presidential candidate

Egypt's army will not propose a candidate in the upcoming presidential election, its military ruler said on Wednesday, denying speculation that it may have in mind a military nominee who could be seen as out of step with a transition to democracy.       

Many Egyptians have become suspicious of military intentions as the shift away from decades of autocratic rule has dragged, suspecting it may want to hold onto power from behind the scenes even after handing over day-to-day government.            

The official Middle East News Agency (MENA) reported that Field Marshal Mohamed Hussein Tantawi "denied the existence of a candidate for the military establishment in the future presidential election."       

Responding to a question about a possible military nominee, MENA quoted Tantawi as saying: "We should not waste time discussing rumors."      Egyptian media have speculated about several names that might have military backing, including Omar Suleiman, former intelligence chief and briefly Mubarak's vice president.      

-Reuters