No Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt if I'm elected: Sisi

Egypt's ex-army chief and leading presidential candidate Abdel Fattah al-Sisi said the Muslim Brotherhood movement of deposed leader Mohamed Morsi was finished in Egypt and would not return if he was elected.

Banner showing Egyptian Defense Minister General Abdel Fattah al-Sisi is seen at the scene of a bomb attack at the Cairo Security Directorate building in the Abdeen district. (File: Getty)

Following the Sisi-led army ouster of Morsi in July, the Brotherhood has been banned, its leaders arrested and more than 1,400 people, mostly Islamist backers of Morsi, killed in protest clashes.

   

Sisi is expected to win the May 26-27 election easily riding on a wave of popularity after he ousted in July Mohamed Morsi, Egypt's first freely elected president.

In his first interview since announcing his candidacy in March, Sisi told two private television channels that the army would not have a ruling role in Egypt if he is elected.

The former army commander's only rival in the upcoming election is leftist leader Hamdeen Sabbahi.

   

Aside from Morsi, all of Egypt's previous presidents have come from military ranks, including longtime strongman Hosni Mubarak who was toppled in early 2011 following a popular 18-day uprising.

   

Sisi ousted Islamist Morsi on July 3 after millions took to the streets opposing his divisive one-year rule.

   

The ouster of Morsi and an ensuing police crackdown on his supporters and the Islamist Muslim Brotherhood movement has polarised Egypt.

   

More than 1,400 people have been killed in the crackdown since July, and over 15,000 jailed.

   

Morsi and most of the top leadership of his Muslim Brotherhood have been put on trial.