Egypt's Presidential candidate Ismail may be barred from election over parent's dual nationality

Cairo, April 10 (ANI): Egyptian presidential contender Hazem Abu Ismail may be barred from contesting the upcoming elections, as one of his parents possesses a dual nationality.

According to Egypt's presidential election rules, all candidates must have been born in Egypt to Egyptian parents who have never held citizenship of another country. They should not be dual nationals and married to a foreigner.

Egypt's electoral commission has said that Ismail's late mother became a naturalized citizen in October 2006, the BBC reports.

But his supporters have called on US President Barack Obama to support their claim that the immigration paperwork was fraudulent.

Abu Ismail has slammed allegations as a "plot" against him and added that he had documents to prove his case and had hired American lawyers to help him.

Egypt's Higher Presidential Election Commission has said that the candidacy papers would be examined later this week.

A final list of eligible candidates will be announced on 26 April.

The White House has not commented on the issue, but tens of thousands of angry messages from Abu Ismail's supporters have been added to President Obama's re-election campaign Facebook page. (ANI)