Egypt junta says 'neutral' towards presidential hopefuls

Head of Egypt's ruling junta says the army is not fielding a candidate in next month’s landmark presidential vote and is neutral towards the candidates. "The armed forces do not have a candidate in the next presidential election," the official MENA news agency quoted the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF) chief Field Marshal Hussein Tantawi, as saying on Monday. He added that the army was "neutral" towards all candidates. Former Egyptian intelligence chief Omar Suleiman, who was the main culprit behind the killings of protesters last year, has joined the presidential race. Many consider Suleiman a favorite of the SCAF, which has ruled Egypt since Hosni Mubarak's downfall in February 11, 2011. The Muslim Brotherhood’s candidate Khairat al-Shater has said that Suleiman’s presidential bid could spark a second revolution in the country. "I consider his entry an insult to the revolution and the Egyptian people," al-Shater said in Cairo on Sunday, hours after Suleiman filed his candidacy. He also likened Suleiman's candidacy to an effort "to steal the revolution". Suleiman was appointed vice president in January 2011 when the revolution gained momentum. The polls are scheduled to be held in two rounds. The first would be held over two days on May 23 and 24, while a run-off, if necessary, would take place on June 16 and 17. Final results are expected on June 21.