Fierce wrangling intensified yesterday between Egypt’s military rulers and its political leaders over the powers granted to the future government to be formed after the first post-revolution elections.

The power struggle has thrust the ruling Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (Scaf) into the ring with the influential Muslim Brotherhood and leading political figure Mohamed ElBaradei.

The Cabinet appointed by the army after Hosni Mubarak’s February ouster was meant to steer the country through the transition, but the military’s plan fell apart when the government led by Essam Sharaf resigned last week.

After days of negotiations and demonstrations, the army said it would stick by its choice of new prime minister, 78-year-old Mubarak-era politician Kamal al-Ganzuri.

Scaf chief Field Marshal Hussein Tantawi has asked leading political figures and presidential hopefuls Dr ElBaradei and Amr Mussa to support the new premier. But doing so would be a risk for the two popular politicians because Mr Ganzuri – who served as premier under Mr Mubarak – has been widely rejected by protesters in Tahrir Square demanding an end to military rule.

Dr ElBaradei, a former UN nuclear watchdog chief, said he was prepared to abandon his presidential bid if asked by the military to head a national salvation government.