Egypt's government resigns

Egypt's government resigns
Prime Minister Hazem el-Beblawi says government offered its resignation, without giving clear reason for the decision.

Egyptian Prime Minister Hazem el-Beblawi said his government is to resign, a step likely to pave the way for army chief Field Marshal Abdel Fattah al-Sisi to declare his candidacy for president.

"Today the cabinet took a decision to offer its resignation to the president of the republic," Beblawi said in a televised statement on Monday.

He gave no clear reason for the decision.

Beblawi was appointed after the army toppled president Mohamed Morsi last July following mass protests against his rule.

Earlier, Egypt's state-run Al Ahram said in a report that the government had quit.

The newspaper, citing an unnamed source in a report on its website, said the decision was made after a 15-minute cabinet meeting, Reuters news agency reported.

For Sisi to run for president, he would first need to leave his post of defence minister.

"This was done as a step that was needed ahead of Sisi's announcement that he will run for president," an Egyptian official told Reuters.

Sisi unveiled a political roadmap meant to lead to elections after toppling Morsi.

Morsi's removal triggered the bloodiest political crisis in Egypt's modern history, with security forces killing hundreds of his supporters and jailing thousands.

Hundreds of security personnel have also died in the turmoil