Egyptian Islamist President Candidate Attacked by armed men

25.02.2012

A prominent Islamist candidate for the Egyptian presidency was attacked by armed men overnight and was in an intensive care unit in hospital suffering from brain concussion, aides and police said on Friday, underscoring an increase in crime a year after a country wide uprising.

Abdel Moneim Abul Fotouh, 60, was on his way home from a campaign event in the city of Munufeya when three armed men wearing masks and carrying machineguns stopped him.

“They beat him on the head repeatedly, took the car and ran,” said campaign team member Ahmed Osama.
“He is now in the intensive care unit and conscious,” said Osama.

The attack occurred two weeks before candidates register to run in the presidential election that Egypt is holding under plans by the ruling military council to hand over power to a new head of state at the end of June.