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World

Profiles of Egypt's main presidential candidates

Associated Press
Published | Updated

Profiles of Egypt's main presidential candidates:

AMR MOUSSA

Former head of the Arab League, he is tainted for serving Mubarak as foreign minister but popular for his criticism of Israel which he says got him fired by Mubarak. Of secular background and West-friendly, 75-year-old Moussa benefits from image as experienced and able to fix the economy. Campaigned in poor and rural areas, promising to help them.

AHMED SHAFIQ

The former Air Force commander and civil aviation minister was Mubarak's last prime minister and was dumped after the president's ouster. Shafiq scores points by presenting himself as a strongman and stabilizer who will restore law and order within 24 hours of taking office. Opponents view him as the military's favorite.

MOHAMMED MORSI

Morsi, the Muslim Brotherhood's candidate was educated as an engineer in southern California. Elected to parliament several times under Mubarak's rule. Morsi, 60, lacks the charisma of the Brotherhood's first-choice candidate, Khairat el-Shater, who was disqualified because of a Mubarak-era conviction, but has the backing and organizational power of the Brotherhood, Egypt's strongest political movement. Its platform promises to reform corrupt institutions, put the state on an "Islamic basis" and apply more Islamic law.

ABDEL-MONEIM ABOLFOTOH

A rebel against conservatives within the Muslim Brotherhood, Abolfotoh, 60, was ousted from the group last year after he announced his presidential bid. The Brotherhood had decided not to field a candidate, but later changed its mind citing the military's mismanagement of the transitional period. He promotes a more inclusive line, opposing censorship and saying he would accept a Christian president. His liberal views and Islamic credentials could draw votes from both camps.

HAMDEEN SABAHI

A veteran opposition figure under Mubarak, the 57-year old Sabahi defends the ideas of late President Gamal Abdel-Nasser and criticizes the United States and Israel. Sabahi took part in the uprising that toppled Mubarak and is popular among many left-leaning youth and labor groups, in part also because he took stances against the generals that took over from Mubarak. Seen as an alternative to both Islamists and former regime officials. Sabahi, a journalist, promotes himself in campaign material as "one of us."