Sheikh Mohamed offers condolences after death of former Egyptian defence minister

Egypt declared three days of mourning following the passing of Mohammed Hussein Tantawi

(FILE) - Egyptian Field Marshal Mohamed Hussein Tantawi during a meeting in Cairo, Egypt, 31 January 2012 (reissued 21 September 2021). Mohammed Hussein Tantawi, long-serving minister of defense during the rule of former president Hosni Mubarak died in Cairo on 21 September 2021 at the age of 85. Tantawi was also the former head of the military council that ruled the country in 2011 after the ousting of Mubarak EPA / AMEL PAIN *** Local Caption *** 50483163

Egypt's military ruler, Mohammed Hussein Tantawi (L), pictured in 2011 at the funeral of Khaled Abdel Nasser, the son of late president Gamal Abdel Nasser. AP

Mohammed Hussein Tantawi attends an iftar in Rafah, northern Sinai, in 2012. He led the junta that ruled Egypt after the fall of Hosni Mubarak. AFP

A supporter of presidential candidate Ahmed Shafik holds a poster of Mohammed Hussein Tantawi at a Cairo rally in 2012. Reuters

Mohammed Hussein Tantawi (C) attends the funeral of Egypt's former intelligence chief Omar Suleiman in Cairo on July 21, 2012. Reuters

Mohammed Hussein Tantawi at a meeting with Egypt's then-president, Mohammed Morsi, at the presidential palace in Cairo on July 31, 2012. Reuters

Field Marshal Tantawi announcing in a televised speech in Cairo on January 24, 2012, the lifting of a decades-old state of emergency. AFP

Field Marshal Tantawi, head of Egypt's ruling military council, in Cairo on September 13, 2011. AFP

Mohammed Hussein Tantawi talks to anti-government protesters in Tahrir Square, Cairo, during the 2011 uprising against Hosni Mubarak, Egypt's president at the time. AFP

Mohammed Hussein Tantawi (1935-2021). Kagan McLeod for The National

Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed has expressed condolences to Egypt on the passing of the country's former defence minister Mohammed Hussein Tantawi, who died on Tuesday at the age of 85.

The Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces expressed his sympathy to "President Abdel Fattah El Sisi and the Egyptian people on the passing of Field Marshal Mohamed Hussein Tantawi".

"History will recall the defence minister’s instrumental role in ensuring the stability of Egypt and its institutions. May he rest in peace," Sheikh Mohamed wrote.

Egypt declared three days of nationwide mourning following Tantawi's death.

“He was a leader and a statesman who took over at the nation’s helm at a very difficult time during which he faced with wisdom and professionalism the dangers that surrounded Egypt,” the Egyptian presidency said.

Mr El Sisi led mourners as a military funeral was held for the late field marshal outside a suburban mosque named after him in east Cairo.