Hesham al-Bastawisi has denied withdrawing his presidential bid, saying he has only suspended his campaign to protest recurrent incidents of bloodshed since last year's January uprising, particularly the deadly clashes in November near the Interior Ministry. The Egyptian judge, in a phone call from Kuwait late Saturday to Al-Hayat satellite channel, said he will return to Egypt in early March to resume his campaign. Bastawisi also said he will quit his post as vice president of the Court of Cassation. The judge said the current Parliament reflects voters' will. He said parliamentary elections have been conducted fairly, which he said encouraged him to proceed with his presidential bid. Bastawisi is a reformist judge who took part in the fight for judicial independence under former President Hosni Mubarak's regime. Last March, he announced his intent to run for president. The High Judicial Elections Commission is scheduled to announce Sunday the timeline for presidential elections, which are expected to end in June. Translated from Al-Masry Al-Youm
