Egypt’s military ruler pardons opposition leadera

Egypt’s military ruler has pardoned Ayman Nour, clearing an obstacle that would have prevented the prominent opposition politician from running for president. Nour was sentenced to five years in prison for allegedly forging signatures on petitions to register his political party in 2005 when he ran against then-President Hosni Mubarak in elections. At the time, Nour called the sentence a political punishment for his decision to challenge Mubarak. Nour was freed on health grounds after nearly four years in prison. Field Marshal Hussein Tantawi’s pardon on Wednesday restores Nour’s full political rights, including the right to hold public office. Nour has said he would run for president after Mubarak was ousted in a popular uprising last year.