BREAKING NEWS

Egypt rulers lift block on Ayman Nour election bid

By REUTERS

MARCH 28, 2012 18:55

CAIRO - Egypt's military rulers on Wednesday lifted a ban preventing Ayman Nour from running for the presidency, opening the way for a presidential bid by the liberal politician who came a distant second to Hosni Mubarak in a 2005 election.

Nour mounted the most serious challenge to Mubarak that year. He was sentenced a few months later to five years in prison on charges of forgery that were widely viewed as trumped up as part of a political vendetta.

Under Egyptian law, a former convict cannot run for the presidency until five years after the end of their jail term - Nour was released in February 2009 on health grounds. But the pardon issued on Wednesday will allow him to run.

"The decision restores rights to where they belong and this is one of the results of the revolution," Nour, 48, told Reuters. Mubarak was overthrown in February 2011 in a popular uprising and the ruling generals who took over from him are set to hand power to an elected president by the end of June.

Nour told Reuters he would indeed run.

UK police arrest three men in counter-terrorism investigation

By REUTERS

05/08/2024 11:29 PM

United Airlines cancels daily flights to Tel Aviv through June 5

By REUTERS

05/08/2024 08:34 PM

IDF eliminates Hamas naval commander in targeted Gaza City airstrike

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF

05/08/2024 07:42 PM

Spanish minister's letters to firms in Israel drive wedge in coalition

By REUTERS