Sisi on running for president: "I will not reject the demand, no alternative but to meet wishes of the Egyptian people"

Egypt' Army Chief Abdel Fattal El Sisi confirmed Thursday that he will run for president in a Kuwaiti newspaper, according to Reuters.

Kuwait's Al Seyassah quoted Sisi saying that "he had no alternative but to meet the wishes of the Egyptian people for him to run."

“I will not reject the demand. I will present this to the Egyptian people to renew confidence through free voting,” the paper quoted Sisi, but there was still no official confirmation from Sisi's office at the time of Reuters publication.

Sisi's alleged run in the elections that expected within six months is likely to heighten the tense divides between Islamists and Sisi supporters in the country since the Army Chief is largely responsible for former Islamist president Mohammed Morsi's ouster.

Sisi's run for the top leadership position in Egypt has also raised fears among the public that the country will return to a Mubarak-like era rather than build a civilian democracy.

Though Sisi announced a political roadmap for Egypt to move towards free and fair elections since Morsi's ouster, the interim government have violently cracked down on any and all Islamists and Muslim Brotherhood members throughout the country, leaving at least 1, 000 dead thus far.