Egyptian Opposition Leader Jailed

24/12/2005| IslamWeb

Egyptian opposition leader Ayman Nour has received a five-year jail term after being found guilty of fraud.

Nour, who came second in a presidential poll in September, was first held in January this year accused of falsifying signatures to register his party, Ghad.

Nour says the charges against him are politically motivated.

Nour shouted slogans against President Hosni Mubarak as he was sentenced, while several hundred people gathered outside the court in support of him.

According to the BBC's Bethany Bell in Cairo, the streets near the court are full of riot police and Ghad party supporters.

Nour has been in hospital after starting a hunger strike earlier this month in protest at his detention.

US concern

His lawyer, Amir Salim, is quoted by the Associated Press news agency as saying the decision against him will "go into the dustbin of history".

"This is a political verdict that will be annulled by the appeal court," he said.

A co-defendant in the trial, Ayman Ismail, had admitted forging documents for Nour - but later withdrew his testimony, saying the confession was forced out of him with threats against his family.

Despite the charges against him, Nour was allowed to compete in presidential polls, where his party finished second to Mr Mubarak's.

He lost his assembly seat to a candidate from the ruling party in November.

Earlier this year, the US said it was watching Nour's trial, which it regards as a test of Cairo's tolerance of dissent.

PHOTO CAPTION

Ayman Nur making a statement to attending reporters during his trial in Cairo, on December 12. (AFP)