Shooting as sacked Egypt party head occupies office

CAIRO, Apr 1 (Reuters) Supporters of an Egyptian politician sacked from the leadership of the opposition Wafd Party stormed the party's offices in Cairo today and eight people were shot and wounded, police said.

Some 15 other people were also injured after Noman Gomaa, ousted from the Wafd leadership in January, and dozens of supporters arrived at the offices.

Three of the people shot were in serious condition, doctors said. Those shot included journalists and party workers who were in the building when Gomaa arrived, police said.

Police were unable to say who was responsible for the shooting.

Police later detained Gomaa, driving him to the prosecutor general for questioning. Six supporters were also held. Some 200 Gomaa opponents who had gathered outside the party offices cheered as he was driven away.

''Here is the leader, here is the leader,'' they chanted as they lifted deputy Wafd leader Mahmoud Abaza on their shoulders.

Gomaa came a distant third to President Hosni Mubarak in Egypt's first multi-candidate presidential election last year with three percent of the vote. The party has only six of the 444 seats in parliament.

Courts had upheld Gomaa's right to enter the party offices.

He still claims to be Wafd leader and says he has been ousted by a small group of rebels.

Since Gomaa was removed, the Wafd Party has elected Mustafa al-Tawil as its new President.

The original Wafd, which traces its roots to an unofficial delegation that lobbied for independence from Britain in 1919, dominated Egyptian politics until the 1952 revolution, after which army officers who took power banned political parties.

Like other secular opposition parties in Egypt, the Wafd, officially called the New Wafd Party since its revival in the 1970s, has not made a significant impact on domestic politics.

REUTERS SHB PC2243