Hamdeen Sabbahi conference by Al-Shabab Magazine at Ahram institution HQ.
(Photo: Ekram Ibrahim)
Presidential hopeful Hamdeen Sabbahi denied on Monday news reports of a deal brokered with presidential candidate Abdel-Moneim Abul-Fotouh, that would see Sabahi withdraw from the presidential race and pose as Abul-Fotouh's vice president.
"I am only running for the presidency. I don’t have any intentions of becoming a vice president for anyone and I do not think I will have in the near future," confirmed Sabbahi in a conference hosted by state-owned Al-Shabab magazine at the Al-Ahram organisation headquarters.
He announced to the attendees - which included a large number of college students - that should he win he would assign three vice presidents: a Copt Christian, a woman and a young adult.
Regarding his position on the Supreme Council of Armed Forces (SCAF), Sabahi said he thought that the military council should be held responsible for the deaths of the many Egyptians, who were killed during the transitional period when they held power.
"Only fair trials will acknowledge their criminal responsibility for the blood of the martyrs," Sabbahi said during the conference. He has announced he would launch investigations into these issues should he win the presidency.
Sabbahi is a veteran Nasserist opposition figure and former member of the People's Assembly. He is also an outspoken critic of the United States and Israel.
Sabbahi officially announced his presidential bid in March 2011, opting to run on an independent ticket and not through the El-Karama Party, which he founded.
He did not run in the parliamentary elections later that year, in order to focus on the presidential contest.
Presidential elections will take place on 23 and 24 May, and the president will be named on 21 June after a runoff voting round on 16 and 17 June.
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