A Non-Egyptian Supreme Guide for the Brotherhood?

There's a story in Al-Masry al-Youm today that says that the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt has announced that the Supreme Guide, Mahdi ‘Akef, plans to retire soon and that his successor will be elected, and candidates might include members of the Brotherhood from abroad. (An English version of the article may be found here.)The Egyptian Brotherhood has always been led by an Egyptian, and it isn't completely clear if the idea here is to throw it open to all nationalities, or to Egyptian Brothers living outside Egypt, but it would be a first in either case.

‘Akef is eligible for another term and may change his mind, but choosing a Supreme Guide from outside Egypt would seem to give the government ammunition to use against the Brotherhood's ever being allowed to function as a normal political party.

UPDATE: Marc Lynch picked up on the same story. Read his comments as well. He has a picture of himself with ‘Akef under the headline "The Next Supreme Guide of the Muslim Brotherhood." Is Prof. Lynch hinting he's a candidate?