CAIRO, May 3 (Aswat Masriya) - Presidential contender Hamdeen Sabahi has invited his rival, ex-Defence Minister Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, to a public debate to present their electoral platforms to the people.

At a press conference in Assiut on Saturday, Sabahi said that a debate is one of the people's rights and an opportunity to get to know the contenders.

"I hope Sisi agrees to the debate," he said.

Saturday marks the start of electoral campaigning after the Presidential Election Commission officially announced Sabahi and Sisi the two contenders of the presidential race.

Sabahi has said that social justice and the eradication of poverty are on top of his electoral platform.

According to his campaign, Sabahi has officially begun his electoral campaigning in Assiut as part of giving attention to Upper Egypt's development.

Electoral campaigning will continue until 23 May. It will be followed by two days of electoral silence after which the elections will be held.

Sisi has not announced his electoral platform yet, but he will be interviewed on Monday by Lamis al-Hadidi and Ibrahim Eissa on CBC and ON TV channels.