Nov 22 (Reuters) - Field Marshal Mohamed Hussein Tantawi is the head of the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces that has ruled Egypt since a popular uprising forced President Hosni Mubarak to resign on Feb. 11.
Here are some facts about Tantawi:
* He was born on Oct. 31, 1935 and joined the armed forces in 1956.
* He has served as minister of defence and military production since 1991 and as general commander of the armed forces since 1995.
* He fought in wars against Israel in 1956, 1967 and 1973.
* He was appointed deputy prime minister, in addition to his post as defence minister, after Mubarak sacked his cabinet in a failed attempt to calm mass protests on Jan. 29.
* He denied any presidential ambitions after an appearance in civilian clothes in September sparked media speculation that he might seek the office. He has kept a low public profile.
* In a diplomatic cable from March 2008, released by WikiLeaks, the U.S. ambassador to Cairo, Francis Ricciardone, described Tantawi as "aged and change-resistant".
(Writing by Alistair Lyon on Cairo; Editing by Mark Heinrich)
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