Egypt's General Al-Sisi to resign as Defense Minister to pave the way for a reported bid for the Presidency

Field Marshal Abdel Fattah al-Sisi was expected to step down as Egypt's defense minister on Wednesday, paving the way for him to run for president in an election he is expected to win easily. 

The military leadership was presenting Sisi's resignation at a meeting with the interim head of state, the state-run Al-Ahram newspaper reported on its website.

Egypt's interim President Adly Mansour shakes hands
with Egypt's army chief Field Marshal Abdel Fattah al-Sisi

Army chief Sisi toppled Egypt's first freely-elected president, Mohamed Mursi of the Muslim Brotherhood, last July after mass protests against his rule. 

Quoting a military source, Al-Ahram said Sisi would announce the widely expected decision in a statement to be broadcast later. Sisi, 59, must leave the army to run in the presidential election. No date for the vote has yet been set.

Al-Sisi, right, comforts the father of an officer who was 

killed in northern Sinai

As Sisi prepared to deliver a speech on state media, Egypt was reminded of the instability that has followed Mursi's ouster. 

A student was killed when police clashed with protesters at Cairo University, the Interior Ministry said, in a demonstration against a court's decision on Monday to sentence 529 supporters of the Muslim Brotherhood to death. 

The Health Ministry said eight people were also wounded. Activists from a group called "Students Against the Coup" had called for the protest.

The Interior Ministry said Muslim Brotherhood members had blocked roads and clashed with citizens, fired gunshots and thrown petrol bombs and fireworks in an attempt to set up a protest camp near the university. It said a number of policemen were wounded with birdshot and burns.

A Reuters witness saw protesters, some wearing gas masks, throw burning projectiles at police and police fired rubber bullets and tear gas. Security sources said police had fired tear gas at between 500 to 600 protesters.

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