Jailed Egypt politician questioned on new allegations

CAIRO, Dec 17 (Reuters) Imprisoned Egyptian politician Ayman Nour has been sent back to jail after being questioned by prosecutors on a number of new allegations, including defaming President Hosni Mubarak, his wife said today.

Gameela Ismail told Reuters Nour, 41, was also being questioned on suspicion of insulting religion and mocking God, among other charges.

Several months ago, Nour's Ghad (Tomorrow) Party newspaper provoked an outcry for publishing a number of articles that were deemed offensive to religion.

Nour did not write the articles and publicly disavowed them, but his status as the chairman of the newspaper's board means that he can be held legally liable.

His wife will also be questioned despite the fact that she has no official role at the newspaper, although she informally supervises its activities.

Nour, who came a distant second to Mubarak in last year's presidential election, is serving a five-year term for filing forged papers to set up his Ghad Party in 2004. He says the charges were fabricated to drive him out of political life.

The US government and human rights groups criticised the trial and sentencing of Nour, who campaigned against Mubarak on a liberal, secular platform.

Nour is scheduled to undergo cardiac catheterisation tomorrow, to determine whether his heart condition will require stent implants or bypass surgery, Ismail said.

Stents are small tubes used to prop open arteries.

Nour, who is diabetic and dependent on insulin, has been bleeding from his eyelids for several days due to an overdose of anticoagulant prescribed by prison doctors in preparation for Monday's procedure, his wife said.

He was scheduled to undergo the cardiac catheterisation last week, but was returned from hospital after being told the procedure required the personal approval of the interior minister, his wife said.

Nour's lawyers have formally asked that he be released on medical grounds, but have received no response.

REUTERS AB BST0059