Egyptian Army Chief Heads To Moscow

Egyptian Defence Minister Abdel-Fattah al-Sissi

Egypt's military chief, Field Marshal Abdel-Fattah al-Sissi, is heading to Moscow on his first visit since the army ousted the country's Islamist president last year.

Military spokesman Ahmed Mohammed Ali says Sissi is being accompanied on the trip by Foreign Minister Nabil Fahmy.

Ali says the trip, which starts on February 12, follows the "historic" visit by a top-level Russian delegation in November.

Russian news agencies say Sissi and Fahmy will hold talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu.

Sissi is widely expected to announce he will run in a presidential election that is likely due in late April.


Based on reporting by AP and ITAR-TASS