Egypt court sentences Opposition figure to 5 years

An Egyptian court sentenced Opposition politician and former presidential candidate Ayman Nour to five years in jail on forgery charges yesterday, raising a storm of outrage from liberals and reformers.

The United States called on the government to release him, saying his conviction cast doubt on the country's commitment to democratic reform.

Nour, leader of the liberal Ghad (Tomorrow) Party and the main challenger to President Hosni Mubarak in the September elections, will appeal the sentence, his lawyer said.

"This is a black day for this court... This is injustice and we are going to take it to the court of cassation," lawyer Amir Salim told reporters.

Nour's wife, Gameela Ismail, who has organised daily protests against the trial, led supporters in chants of "Down with Mubarak, Down with the Regime." A Ghad Party statement blamed the judge, Abdel Salam Gomaa, and noted the same man had found liberal sociologist Saadeddin Ibrahim guilty in 2002 of damaging Egypt's reputation abroad.

"Throughout Nour's trial, the judge showed a hostile attitude towards Nour and his defence team, denying most of their motions and allowing slander of Ayman Nour," it said.