Al-Sisi's Campaign Denies Assisting Egypt Presidential Rival

The presidential campaign of former army chief Abdel-Fatah al-Sisi denied Friday that it had helped leftist rival Hamdeen Sabahi collect written endorsements from eligible voters.



In a Friday statement, the campaign described as "groundless" reports that it had helped Sabahi collect the necessary voter endorsements.



The official MENA news agency had reported that members of al-Sisi's campaign in the Nile Delta had mobilized voters to provide written endorsements to Sabahi.



Sabahi's campaign also denied relying on al-Sisi's campaign to obtain the endorsements.



"We do not need extra endorsements," campaign spokesman Hossam Moeness told the private daily al-Masry al-Youm.



"We will apply with the endorsements of our own supporters who are choosing our candidate because they believe in him and not as a service to another candidate," he added.



Presidential hopefuls need to collect written endorsements from 25,000 eligible voters to be able to run for president, according to the newly-approved constitution.



Sunday will be the last day to receiving the voter endorsement from presidential hopefuls.



Only al-Sisi has managed to collect the required number of endorsements so far. He submitted his application to the election commission on Monday.



The former army chief, who led the army to unseat elected president Mohamed Morsi last summer, will automatically win the elections, scheduled for May 26-27, in the absence of rival candidates.



By Hussein Qabani



englishnews@aa.com.tr - Kahire