Egypt’s interim president Addly Mansour said his country will have an "elected" leader in two and a half months.

Egypt’s interim president Addly Mansour said his country will have an "elected" leader in two and a half months.

In an interview published Friday by the state-owned Al-Ahram daily, Mansour said: “I am telling you with all confidence that two and a half months from now Egypt will have an elected president and I will hand him the decision-making power.”

The presidential election is seen as a major milestone in a transitional roadmap outlined by the military-installed authorities for a return to democratic rule after the army ousted president Mohamed Mursi in July.

Army chief Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has made no secret of his intention to stand in the election -- which is scheduled to be held sometime this spring -- but has yet to announce his candidacy officially.

Mursi, Egypt's first democratically elected president and the first civilian to hold the post, was ousted following massive street protests against his turbulent single year in power.