Egypt opposition leader sentenced to 5 years jail

Egyptian Ayman Nour, leader of the opposition Ghad party, reacts after his conviction at a court in Cairo yesterday. Hosni Mubarak's runner-up in Egypt's presidential election, fiery young lawyer Nur, was sentenced to five years in prison.. PHOTO: AFP

The 41-year-old went on trial six months ago on charges of forging affidavits for the creation of his Ghad (Tomorrow) party last year.

Nur and his wife shouted "Down with (President) Hosni Mubarak" when judge Adel Abdel Salam Gomaa read the sentence.

Among Nur's six co-defendants, two were sentenced to five years in prison, three to three years and another was sentenced to 10 years in absentia.

Nur, who was Mubarak's main challenger in the September presidential election, has always denied the charges, arguing they were trumped up by the regime to undermine his political career.