Exiled Egypt presidential hopeful plans return in coming weeks

CAIRO – Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi's strongest potential challenger in the country's 2018 election plans to return from exile in the coming weeks, his daughter said on Friday.

Ahmed Shafik, a former air force commander and government minister, said this week he intended to run for president in a surprise announcement from the United Arab Emirates (UAE), where he is based.

Shafik's daughter May Shafik said on Friday he was preparing to depart, first for Europe and the United States. "Then he will head back to Egypt to start his presidential campaign," she said.