CAIRO — Egypt's interim president announced Sunday that the country will hold presidential elections before parliamentary polls, promising that a rise in "dark terrorism" won't derail a transition to democracy following a July 3 popularly backed military coup.
The announcement, expected after weeks of speculation, comes as many think army chief Gen. Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi will run for president after leading the coup that toppled Islamist President Mohammed Morsi.
But Egypt remains dangerously divided, as seen in clashes Saturday that pitted security forces and civilians who back the interim government against Morsi supporters, killing 49 people. There has also been a rise in militant attacks, including one on Sunday that killed three soldiers in the country's lawless Sinai Peninsula.