Election panel shuts office after Egypt protests

Egypt's presidential elections commission has shut down its main office in Cairo as thousands protested for and against contenders for the Egyptian presidency on Friday. "The commission members saw there was a danger to the lives of all those working inside the office and decided to evacuate it from the staff because there was no enough protection," said Hatem Bagatu, the secretary-general of the panel. He added that documents related to the election process and candidacies are kept inside the office. The supporters of Hazem Salah Abu Ismail, an ultra-conservative Salafist presidential hopeful, late Friday rallied to the site of the commission in the eastern Cairo area of Heliopolis, shouting slogans against it in an anticipation of a decision to disqualify him. Earlier this month, the commission said it was officially notified by the Egyptian Foreign Ministry that Abu Ismail's late mother was a US citizen. Under the Egyptian constitution, presidential candidates, their parents and spouses must be only Egyptian citizens. However, a Cairo court said earlier this week there was no evidence that Abu Ismail's mother had a dual citizenship. His supporters have vowed to continue their strike outside the commission's office until it validates his presidential bid. Known for his anti-US rhetoric, Abu Ismail, 50, is one of the strongest contenders in the May 23-24 vote, Egypt's first since Hosni Mubarak's overthrow in February last year. The commission is expected to announce a final list of the eligible contestants late this month.