Omar Suleiman, the ex-intelligence chief who served as vice president in the last days of toppled president Hosni Mubarak’s regime, denied allegations he had intended to run for presidency in the upcoming elections.

Suleiman said in a letter sent to Ahram that he spared no effort to serve Egypt and protect it for many years, saying he came close to death many times while on duty, but now it is time for him to rest and dedicate his time to his family.

He also thanked those who supported him as a presidential bidder, but stressed that he is not eyeing the country’s top job.

In an online poll for presidential candidacy conducted on the Facebook page of Egypt’s Supreme Council of the Armed Forces, Suleiman came fifth on the list behind presidential hopefuls Mohamed ElBaradei, Mohamed Selim El-Awa, Ahmed Shafiq and Amr Moussa.