CAIRO: Egypt’s intelligence chief, who took office in mid-2013 after the overthrow of President Muhammad Mursi, has been retired from the job, the presidency said on Sunday.

No reason was given in a statement for the departure of Mohamed Farid Al-Tohamy, who had been a consistent advocate of the fierce security crackdown on Muslim Brotherhood that has seen hundreds killed and thousands jailed.

The state-run news portal Al-Ahram said Tohamy, who is in his 60s, was retired for health reasons. Khaled Fawzy, a senior official in the intelligence agency, will temporarily assume Tohamy’s duties, the presidential statement said.

“President Abdel Fattah El-Sissi has issued a decree to retire Mr. Mohamed Farid (Al-Tohamy), head of general intelligence, and issued a decree awarding him the Order of the Republic of the first degree in recognition of his efforts throughout his career,” it said.

El-Sissi later honored him with the Republic Award. El-Sissi previously served with Tohamy in military intelligence and as army chief orchestrated Mursi’s ouster.