Egypt’s military rulers have 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 deposed president Hosni Mubarak in a 2005 election.
Mr Nour mounted the most serious challenge to Mr Mubarak that year. He was sentenced to five years in prison on forgery charges widely viewed as trumped up. Under Egyptian law, a former convict cannot run for the presidency until five years after the end of their jail term. Mr Nour was released in February 2009 on health grounds. But yesterday’s pardon will allow him to run. “The decision restores rights to where they belong and this is one of the results of the revolution,” said Mr Nour. – (Reuters)