CAIRO // Egypt’s army chief Abdel Fattah El Sisi said yesterday that he would run for president if the people demand it and the military supports him.

Gen El Sisi is easily the most popular leader in Egypt after the removal of Mohammed Morsi in July after massive protests against the Islamist president’s turbulent one-year rule. Military officers have said he had support within the army to stand in the election scheduled to take place this year.

“If I nominate myself, there must be a popular demand, and a mandate from my army,” the state newspaper Al Ahram quoted him as saying at a meeting with Egyptian officials.

The comments ahead of this week’s referendum on a new constitution, the first in a series of polls the interim government says will restore elected rule following Mr Morsi’s ousting. The referendum will be held on Tuesday and Wednesday.

An official close to Gen El Sisi said the army chief has not made up his mind but feels he “would not have the luxury or choice” to stand aside in the election if there is a palpable demand for him to run in the poll.

Asked what evidence of public support Gen El Sisi would require, the official said turn out in the referendum to approve the new constitution would be an “indicator”.

Al Ahram reported the audience broke into applause at Gen El Sisi’s comments and chanted “we are all with you”.

The official close to Gen El Sisi said that he would be “obliged” to stand in the election if he felt the people demanded him as president.

“He will never let the people down,” he said.

In his address to officials, Gen El Sisi urged the public to “assume their national responsibility of participating in force in the referendum to build a democratic and modern state that satisfies all Egyptians”.

Gen El Sisi is wildly popular among a majority of Egyptians who had rallied in the millions demanding Mr Morsi’s resignation before the military removed him and detained the Islamist leader.

Most of the leading former candidates who lost to Mr Morsi in the 2012 election have said they would stand aside if Gen El Sisi chose to run.

Beleaguered by three years of instability following the toppling of president Hosni Mubarak in the 2011 uprising, many Egyptians yearn for a strong leader who would fix the economy and restore security.

But Mr Morsi’s followers accuse Gen El Sisi of leading a “coup” against the country’s first freely elected and civilian president.

More than 1,000 people have been killed in street clashes, and thousands have been jailed, in a crackdown on Mr Morsi’s supporters following his removal.

* Agence France-Presse