The head judge of a court reviewing a lawsuit against Muslim Brotherhood presidential hopeful Khairat al-Shater's candidacy has stepped down.
State-run newspaper Al-Ahram reported on its website that the head of the court decided to remove himself from the case in accordance with a request from Shater's lawyers.
Privately owned newspaper Youm7's website quoted Brotherhood lawyer Abdel Moneim Abdel Maqsoud as saying that the court panel decided to step down after judging a similar case of presidential hopeful Ayman Nour and nullifying his nomination.
Abdel Maqsoud said Shater's legal team called on the head of the court to step down, fearing he had already formed an opinion about the case ahead of the hearing.
MP and presidential candidate Abul Ezz al-Hariry filed the lawsuit against the pardon Shater had received from the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces.
In the lawsuit — filed against Presidential Elections Commission head Farouk Sultan, Field Marshal Hussein Tantawi and Interior Minister Mohamed Ibrahim — Hariry said the decision to pardon Shater was illegal and in violation of the interim constitution.
