Medical decision THE MEDICAL team, which was officially commissioned to examine jailed opposition leader Ayman Nour to determine whether or not he deserves to be released by a presidential pardon, will make its decision in a few weeks, reports Mona El-Nahhas. The committee, which concluded its work on Saturday, said it needs the time to study Nour's entire medical history. Nour, 43, who is the leader of Al-Ghad Party, suffers from diabetes as well as heart and back problems. It did not give a reason why it would take them so long to decide. The medical committee is comprised of the prison doctor, five doctors working for the Forensic Medicine Authority and a professor at one of Egypt's faculties of medicine. Before the examination, press reports expected the medical team to recommend Nour's release very soon. Yet according to Nour's wife, Gamila Ismail and Al-Ghad's assistant secretary-general, "nothing is certain." "We know it would be a political decision first and foremost," stated Ismail. Nour, who came second to President Mubarak in last year's first multi-candidate presidential polls is now serving a five-year jail sentence on charges of forging signatures in order to get his liberal Al-Ghad Party licensed. Should he be released, Nour will face a ban on engaging in political activity for at least six years, one of the conditions of any presidential pardon. In order for Nour to resume his political career and clear his name he must file a rehabilitation suit six years after his release, which effectively prevents him from running in the presidential elections scheduled for 2011. "All I want for him now is to be released. Saving Nour's life takes priority over everything else," pleaded Ismail. Last month, Nour's family called on political activists to intervene and begin to press for Nour's release in accordance with the constitution. Last week, Nour's party faced harsh criticism in the wake of what was published in its weekly publication and was viewed as an insult to ten of Prophet Mohamed's Companions, al-sahaba. Islamist lawyer Mamdouh Ismail sued the Al-Ghad newspaper, while the party hastened to apologise. In a statement issued on Sunday, it said that the party has no direct control over the newspaper's editorial policy. What was published, the statement continued, does not represent the party's views. According to Ismail, the aim behind the controversy is to tarnish Nour's image in the court of public opinion. Sadat questioned A NEWS blackout was imposed on the military prosecution of MP Talaat El-Sadat, who is accused of spreading false rumours and defaming the Armed Forces. The parliamentary immunity of Sadat, who is the nephew of late President Anwar El-Sadat, was lifted on 5 October after he labelled his uncle's assassination an "international conspiracy". Last week, he told the independent daily Al-Masry Al-Yom he would ask parliament to form a committee to re- investigate the circumstances of his uncle's assassination on 6 October, 1981. If parliament did not agree, he would pursue his request in the United Nations. The Sadat family issued a statement distancing them from their cousin, saying he "speaks for himself and does not represent the entire family". The statement was signed by Gamal El-Sadat, the late president's son. In a step that was considered an apology, the MP published full page ads on Tuesday and Wednesday that "clarifies" that he has "full respect and appreciation for the Armed Forces and its honourable men, and its wise leadership under President Hosni Mubarak". Travel ban for Akef ON TUESDAY Egyptian authorities banned the Supreme Guide of the Muslim Brotherhood Mohamed Mahdi Akef from travelling to Saudi Arabia to perform the umra (smaller pilgrimage), along with two of his aides. According to a security source, speaking on condition of anonymity, Akef and his aides were held back by Cairo Airport authorities because their names appeared on a list of people barred from leaving the country. No further explanation was given. For its part, the group denounced the ban, describing it in a statement as "extremely unjust and tramples on constitutional rights". It continued that, "we did not imagine that political differences could lead to the violation of basic rights and freedoms, especially that these measures are based on administrative decisions and not legal ones." In December 2005, authorities prevented Akef from going to Saudi Arabia for pilgrimage, a decision that was later reversed. Smugglers wounded ISRAELI forces reportedly shot and wounded three Egyptians this week who, they alleged, were smuggling drugs across the border into Israel. The incident occurred north of the Israeli city of Eilat, where the Egyptian, Israeli and Jordanian borders converge. Soldiers spotted the three carrying large bags and ordered them to halt. The Israeli military said they ignored the call, and that the soldiers opened fire and wounded them "slightly".
