Egypt: Ten presidential candidates disqualified

The Egyptian Election Commission announced on Saturday that ten people will not be allowed to stand in the the upcoming presidential elections. Among them is former intelligence chief and vice president of the state a short time Omar Suleiman, candidate of the Muslim Brotherhood Khairat el-Shater, and a Salafi sheik Hazem Abu Ismail. Egypt: Ten presidential candidates disqualified The Commission representative Tarek Abul Atta told AFP that Suleiman's candidacy was rejected because it failed to gain support in 15 provinces, as required by law. El-Shater's candidacy was rejected because he was released from prison in March of last year, while according to election law, a person may run only after six years had passed since their imprisonment, or if they were pardoned within that period. Ismail will not participate in the race because his mother holds a "non-Egyptian citizenship", also not in accordance with the law. Among the other candidates were rejected and Ayman Nour, who came into the focus of the global public interest when he was a rival Hosni Mubarak in the presidential elections in 2005. Shortly after these elections, Nour was briefly imprisoned and released in 2009 for health reasons. He was disqualified on the same grounds as Shater. The candidates have 48 hours to appeal against the decision. 23 candidates were registered in the first presidential elections since last year's uprising that resulted in the removal of President Mubarak from power. Among them is the former head of the Arab League Amr Moussa, who for ten years served as foreign minister in the Mubarak regime. Elections will be held on May 23 and 24. (Beta, file) Tanjug

Egypt: Ten presidential candidates disqualified

The Commission representative Tarek Abul Atta told AFP that Suleiman's candidacy was rejected because it failed to gain support in 15 provinces, as required by law.

El-Shater's candidacy was rejected because he was released from prison in March of last year, while according to election law, a person may run only after six years had passed since their imprisonment, or if they were pardoned within that period.

Ismail will not participate in the race because his mother holds a "non-Egyptian citizenship", also not in accordance with the law.

Among the other candidates were rejected and Ayman Nour, who came into the focus of the global public interest when he was a rival Hosni Mubarak in the presidential elections in 2005.

Shortly after these elections, Nour was briefly imprisoned and released in 2009 for health reasons. He was disqualified on the same grounds as Shater.

The candidates have 48 hours to appeal against the decision.

23 candidates were registered in the first presidential elections since last year's uprising that resulted in the removal of President Mubarak from power.

Among them is the former head of the Arab League Amr Moussa, who for ten years served as foreign minister in the Mubarak regime.

Elections will be held on May 23 and 24.