ALEXANDRIA, Egypt: Ayman Nour, chairman of the liberal al-Ghad Party, officially launched his campaign for the upcoming presidential election in Alexandria Sunday. Nour said his party will create a civil coalition for all civilian powers. “The coalition does not have any opposition to other political factions, and the Muslim Brotherhood and Salafists have the right to practice politics as long as there is no neglect of any other party or political faction,” he said. “The Mubarak era was a negative step in Egyptian history,” Nour added during a meeting at the party's new headquarters in a building named after Gamal Mubarak. Other party heads and political figures were in attendance, including Nour's former wife, activist Gameela Ismail. Nour said al-Ghad has always called for reform and change but during the Mubarak regime there was forgery in elections and obstacles to getting on the ballot. These marginalized al-Ghad Party in the political community and allowed the government to believe Egyptians had become mute, blind and even dead politically until the current post-Revolution rejuvenation. Nour said the January 25 Revolution began in Alexandria with supporters of the martyr Khaled Said. Nour called for the reunion of all Egyptian civil powers, which suffer from fragmentation. Talking about his detention, Nour said, “I have been tortured by 40 officers of State Security. I contacted forensic Ahmed al-Sebaei to tell him I was injured in 16 different areas of my body. I was surprised when he made changes in his medical report before the prosecution.” Ahmed al-Sebai is head of the Egyptian Forensic Examination Authority and is the doctor who checks up on ousted president Hosni Mubarak's health. “Although Mubarak's heart efficiency is 74% as apposed to mine, which was 54% while I was imprisoned, the physician said Mubarak should stay in the hospital, to prevent him from entering prison. However, he will be imprisoned as I continue with my presidential campaign,” added Nour. “We should all be worried about al-Ghad's future, especially after our long standing challenge to exist. The coming period needs more ideas and effort,” said Gameela Ismail, who surprised the attendants by her attendance. Ismail added that she will boost the party and any candidate, whoever it will be. She said the Salafists have the right to practice politics as long rules are followed and all parties respect one another.
