Abdel-Moneim Abul-Fotouh, the ex-Muslim Brother and former presidential candidate, has praised President Mohamed Morsi’s decision on Sunday to reshuffle the commanders of the armed forces.

The move would strengthen the military’s ability to protect the nation, he said during a meeting of his Strong Egypt party in Alexandria on Monday.

The appointment of Judge Mahmoud Mekki as vice president was also praised by Abul-Fotouh, who described him as an “independent figure.”

Abul-Fotouh went on to describe the role his party would play in the coming months: "We are an opposition that aims to support the regime's correct decisions and criticise its wrong decisions."

Furthermore, he said parliamentary elections should be held quickly so legislative authority will not be in the hands of the president for too long.

The Strong Egypt party, which is currently being formed, will participate in the election, he added.

Despite being a moderate Islamist, Abul-Fotouh insisted his party does not have a religious agenda.

The military operation conducted in Sinai, after 16 border guards were killed in a terrorist attack last week, was part of the restoration of Egyptian sovereignty over the peninsula, Abul-Fotouh said.

The Camp David accords regarding security arrangements, and the right of Egypt to mobilise troops in the Sinai without Israeli permission must be looked at again, he concluded.