10 candidates disqualified in Egypt's presidential race
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E-mail Xinhua, April 15, 2012
Ten out of Egypt's 23 presidential candidates were barred from running in the polls, the country's election commission said on Saturday.
Khairat al-Shater of the Muslim Brotherhood, Salafist Hazem Salah Abou Ismail, former Vice President Omar Suleiman, and Ghad Al-Thawra Party leader Ayman Nour are among the barred candidates, according to the Higher Presidential Election Commission.
They failed to meet the requirements related to nationality, signatures and other aspects, said Farouk Sultan, head of the commission.
The disqualified candidates can appeal against the decision to the commission within 48 hours.
"The decision indicates the honesty and transparency of the commission," Ramadan Batikh, professor of constitutional law, told state TV. "It relies on legal reasons, not the public pressure or million-man rallies," he said.
The commission's decision will make Islamist Mohamed Aboul Fotouh, Freedom and Justice Party chairman Mohamed Morsi, former Arab League chief Amr Moussa and former Prime Minister Ahmed Shafik the top hopefuls in the race.
Egypt is set to hold its presidential vote on May 23-24, and the final list of qualified candidates will be announced on April 26.
