Trial of Egyptian dissident Presidential candidate postponed till after election

[lord of the mark]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4656837.stm

Ayman Nour, an opponent of President Hosni Mubarak has been on trial, and it has been feared a conviction would prevent him from running, leaving no real opposition in the Sept Presidential election. The govt, for reasons that are not yet clear, has postponed the trial till after the election, which will enable him to run. His wife, however, says the govt postponed the trial to leave a cloud over him - evidently she expected an aquittal - which may well be true, as the govt case has been collapsing, as witnesses recanted.

[Spiffor]

It's a fairly good news. Even though the elections are likely to be largely manipulated by the Mubarakites, the presence of the opponent in the campaign is likely to trigger a public debate, and to contribute to the democratization of Egypt's mindset.

[GePap]

The Times article:

http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/inter...gypt-nour.html

It would be funny if the government set the election date the day of the beginning of the trial again.

[GePap]

Note, the date of the election has not actually been chosen. Also, the wife is the official spokesperson for the husband.

[lord of the mark]

Originally posted by GePap
Note, the date of the election has not actually been chosen. Also, the wife is the official spokesperson for the husband.

yes and latest reports indicates he agrees, he said he wanted the trial over BEFORE the election. Either hes bluffing, or he actually expected an acquittal.

[GePap]

The government is waiting for the witness who recanted to re-recant.