3 frontrunners among 10 Egyptian presidential hopefuls barred from elections

Cairo, Apr 15 (ANI): Egypt's election commission has reportedly disqualified ten presidential hopefuls, including the country's ex-spy chief Omar Suleiman and Muslim Brotherhood's candidate Khairat al-Shater.

Ultra-orthodox Salafi Hazem Salah Abu Ismail and long-standing opposition leader Ayman Nour were also banned.

The announcement came as a shock to many Egyptians as three of the ten excluded were considered among the front-runners.

They now have 48 hours to appeal the decision, according to election rules, The BBC reports.

According to the report, Suleiman, former dictator Hosni Mubarak's vice president was apparently barred because he failed to get enough signatures to endorse his last minute candidacy.

Abu Ismail was reportedly ruled out because his mother has American citizenship.

Shater, the leader of the powerful Muslim Brotherhood, was barred because of a former criminal conviction, the report said.

Many of those banned and their supporters have expressed anger over the move and large demonstrations are expected in the capital, Cairo. (ANI)