Ban Thrown Out Against Former Mubarak Premier

Then-Prime Minister Ahmed Shafiq during a press conference in Cairo in February 2011, as the popular protests were mounting to oust his boss, Hosni Mubarak.

Egypt's election commission has reinstated the last prime minister to serve under ousted leader Hosni Mubarak as a candidate for next month's presidential election.

Ahmed Shafiq had been disqualified under a law barring former top officials from Mubarak's regime from running for office.

The law was passed by the parliament and endorsed by the ruling military council this week.

Shafiq was appointed prime minister in the last days before Mubarak was ousted by a popular uprising in February 2011.

Shafiq had challenged the constitutionality of the new legislation and the election commission, in a surprise ruling late on April 25, upheld his appeal.

The commission also referred the law to the Supreme Constitutional Court.

The commission was expected on April 26 to announced a final list of candidates for the May 23-24 election.

Based on reporting by dpa and Reuters