Presidential hopeful Nour denies being involved in last month`s clashes, claiming prosecution`s summons is political retribution for filing a complaint against Egypt`s ruling military council.
Presidential hopeful Ayman Nour, founder of the liberal Ghad Al-Thawra (‘The Revolution’s Tomorrow’) Party, responded to allegations by eyewitnesses of last month’s Cabinet clashes, fingering him for inciting the violence, by claiming that the accusations were politically motivated
Though he has not received any official documents summoning him for questioning, it has been made public that a testimony made by one of those arrested during the clashes alleged that Nour encouraged the protestors to initiate the clashes.
Nour, who believes he is being targeted him after filing a legal complaint against the ruling military council on 19 December, says that those arrested are pressured to make such allegations.
The veteran politician explains that he has filed a complaint against military officer Hossam El-Din Mostafa for forcing those whom he detained near parliament during the clashes to falsely testify against anyone of his choosing.
Nour insists he only incited protesters on 25 January and that during the Cabinet clashes he was ill and at home, watching the events unfold on television.
The clashes, which erupted after the military forcefully evacuated the Cabinet sit-in, left 16 dead and 928 injured according to health ministry estimates. The clashes also resulted in the burning of the historic Scientific Institute.
[Produced in partnership with Ahram Online.]
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