Egypt relieves spy chief for 'health reasons'

Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi has relieved intelligence chief Mohamed Fareed al-Tuhami for “health reasons,” a state-run newspaper reported late Saturday.

According to Al-Ahram daily, al-Tuhami was relieved of the post “for the presence of a health problem that would hinder him from carrying out his duties.”

The paper added that al-Sisi has appointed Gen. Khaled Fawzi, head of the National Security Agency, as the acting intelligence chief.

The presidency is yet to make an official statement on the reshuffle.

Al-Tuhami, a former director of Egypt’s military intelligence agency, was appointed as the chief of the country’s intelligence service in July of last year following the ouster of Islamist president Mohamed Morsi by the army.

His appointment was the first decision taken by then interim President Adly Mansour following Morsi’s overthrow which came on the heels of mass protests against his rule.