An Egyptian opposition politician standing trial this week on charges of forgery said on Monday the case was instigated by the government to disrupt his party's activities ahead of presidential elections later this year. Ayman Nour, head of the Ghad (Tomorrow) Party, told Reuters he would respond to the charges by throwing the accusation back at the government.
"I will accuse them of forging for the past 50 years ... the will of 70 million Egyptians," Nour said, adding that the trial would not prevent him from standing in Egypt's first multi-candidate presidential elections, expected in September.