Maria’s note: Omar Suleiman dies

Former intelligence chief, Omar Suleiman, has died in the US while undergoing medical treatment. No specific cause of death has been given.

Suleiman, 76, served as the head of Egypt’s intelligence for 18 years. Over two decades he was an essential figure in the Egyptian political scene as well as in the Middle East region.

On January 29 2011, Mubarak appointed him his vice president and some contemplated that Suleiman would succeed Mubarak in the presidency of Egypt. On February 2011, Suleiman appeared on state TV to announce that the ousted president was handing power to the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces. Despite being one of the shortest speeches, that recording became famous worldwide. Suleiman disappeared from the public scene after this announcement to reappearing April 2012, when he presented his candidacy for the presidential elections. However, the Supreme Presidential Electoral Committee rejected his candidacy for not getting the required number of votes in different governorates. After Morsi’s victory, he left Egypt.