CAIRO: Mohamed Mahdy Akef, the supreme guide of the Muslim Brotherhood, will not run for a second term, the group's deputy leader told Daily News Egypt. Akef, whose tenure ends in January 2010, announced that he was not planning on running for another term, Mohmed Habib said. He said that the group did not discuss possible candidates for the position, adding that "it is too early to plan or discuss anything. Habib, however, denied news reports claiming Akef was planning on an early retirement. According to the Brotherhood's internal statutes, the supreme guide is only allowed to run for two consecutive six-year terms. Diaa Rashwan, political analyst and expert on Islamic movements at Al-Ahram Center for Political and Strategic Studies, is however skeptical of Akef's decision, saying there might be a hidden agenda. "Akef might be sending an indirect message to the Egyptian government that it too should not run for another term, Rashwan said. "However, all the analysis surrounding the decision are nothing but assumptions and claims. No one really knows the reason behind this decision, he added.
