Suleiman mulls presidential candidacy

CAIRO, March 7 (UPI) -- Former Egyptian Vice President Omar Suleiman is considering a run for president and will decide by Saturday, his media adviser said.

Marwa Munir told al-Arabiya support for Suleiman, the country's former intelligence chief named vice president by Hosni Mubarak days before his ouster, is growing on his Facebook page, adding Suleiman's nomination could change opinion polls.

Al-Arabiya said some 33,000 fans on Suleiman's Facebook page support his presidential nomination.

Candidates will be able to submit their nominations officially starting Saturday, the network said.

"Suleiman has good relations [also] with the Copts, and previously attended the opening of the Abbasiya Cathedral … enjoys the respect and appreciation of liberal and leftist parties, and of some national and revolutionary forces," Munir told the network.

She said he is popular in the governorate of Qena, his birth place, as well as in Alexandria, some of the Delta provinces and Cairo.