Poll Registration Ends in Egypt

Local Editor

Nomination for candidacy in Egypt’s first post-Mubarak presidential election closed on Sunday.

omar suleiman going to register

 Twenty three candidates have registered, including former intelligence chief Omar Suleiman who made a last minute application just half an hour before the 2 pm local time.

Suleiman was Hosni Mubarak’s vice president during the final days of his residency which was ended last year by a popular uprising.

The candidates also included former Arab League chief Amr Moussa, ultra-conservative preacher Hazem Abu Ismail, and Mubarak's last Prime Minister, Ahmed Shafiq.

The Muslim Brotherhood has nominated Khairat El-Shater. Meanwhile, it put forward a back-up candidate, after questions over the eligibility of their first nominee.

Politician Ayman Nour, whose unprecedented challenge to Mubarak in presidential elections in 2005 earned him worldwide recognition, was disqualified by a court on Saturday from contesting because of a conviction for alleged fraud.

The country's ruling military council had earlier agreed to let him run. Nour's lawyer said he would be appealing the latest ruling, the official Mena news agency reported. Saturday's verdict said he could only stand for the presidency six years after his pardon.

On Monday authorities are to publish a provisional list of the candidates who will ran for the poll which is due to start on May 23.


Source: Agencies
09-04-2012 - 13:26 Last updated 09-04-2012 - 13:26

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