Egypt calls early presidential election as violence spreads

Egypt's Army Chief General Abdel Fattah al-Sisi (R) comforts the father of an officer who was killed yesterday morning in northern Sinai during a military funeral was held for 5 of the soldiers in Cairo early January 26, 2014. REUTERS/Egypt Ministry of Defence via Al Youm Al Saabi Newspaper

CAIRO (Reuters) - Egypt will hold a presidential vote before parliamentary polls, President Adly Mansour said on Sunday, in a change to a political roadmap that could pave the way for the swift election of army chief General Abdel Fattah al-Sisi.

Parliamentary elections were supposed to be held first under the timetable drawn up after the army overthrew President Mohamed Mursi of the Muslim Brotherhood in July following mass protests against his rule.