Egypt's Nour released from jail

Cairo, 19 Feb-(ANA)-Egyptian authorities have released the country's best known opposition figure, Ayman Nour, after three years in jail.

Judiciary officials said Mr Nour, 44, was released on health grounds.

Speaking by telephone from his Cairo home, Mr Nour said he would resume leadership of his Ghad (Tomorrow) party and rejoin political life.

Mr Nour came a distant second in Egypt's first contested presidential poll in 2005 but was jailed for alleged election fraud in the following months.

The US, Egypt's close ally and major aid donor, took great interest in the Nour case and described his conviction as a miscarriage of justice.

The 44-year-old lawyer is known to suffer from diabetes and is dependent on insulin injections.

Speaking to reporters by telephone from his home, Mr Nour thanked God that he had been released.

"I am going to practise my role as a politician through the Ghad party and through my previous role," he added.

While in jail, Mr Nour believed the regime wanted him to die behind bars, he told the AFP news agency during an interview last year.

He described himself as having gone from a victim of "political assassination" to being subjected to "physical destruction". (ANA)

FA/ANA/19 February 2009---