Field marshal Hussein Tantawi, the former head of the military council that ruled Egypt temporarily after its 2011 uprising, has died at the age of 85, Egypt's presidency said on Tuesday, declaring three days of national mourning.

Tantawi - a decorated veteran of wars against Israel in 1956, 1967 and 1973 - was defence minister for 21 years, covering most of the long presidency of Hosni Mubarak.

He led the...