Defence Minister Sobhi Visits Coptic Pope In First Official Appearance

In his first official appearance, Egypt`s new defence minister, Colonel General Sedki Sobhi, visited Pope Tawadros II on Monday to extend his condolences on the death of his mother.

The mother of the head of the Coptic Orthodox Church passed away on Friday morning.

The funeral mass was held on Saturday at St. Mark’s Cathedral in Alexandria.

Tawadros II formally thanked Sobhi and other army officials in attendance for their condolences.

Former chief-of-staff Sedki Sobhi was sworn in by interim president Adly Mansour last Thursday as defence minister after Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi officially resigned the post earlier in the day.

As a precursor of his appointment, Sobhi was promoted to colonel general by Mansour on Wednesday, a rank historically reserved solely for this post.

Source : Ahram online