Two months earlier Nour stood in the very same cage standing forgery accusations of el Ghad party powers of attorney. On July 22nd, Nour turned his trial at South Cairo court house into a great victory announcing his challeng to Mubarak through running for presidency. A day later, in the second court session, one of the witnesses against Nour testified his confessions were under security pressures, giving Nour a stronger position and shiner image in the to-be elections.

Today, after touring Egypt all over for the first presidential elections, Nour stands as the most popular opposition leader, yet also stands as a suspect in a cage, in a court room. Defense team appealed the judge to provide both more time and access to the documents cuurently kept by the prosecution. Amir Salem, Nour’s lawyer says “We are denied photocopies of the documents we are accused of forging. We have to go in person and sit at the prosecution office for hours and hours to be able to check hundreds of documents”. Defense team are trying to win more time till the new Parliament is formed which would mean new procedures for re-lifting his imunity and possibilities of starting all over again.

Despite her resignation from the party, Dr. Mona Makram Ebeid is a true supporter of Ayman Nour. She came to court today to testify with him. Dr. Ebeid had left the party as she felt the threat of destructive members whom Nour refused to take a stance against. With the party division lead by Ragab Helal Hemeida and Moussa Mostafa Moussa, Ebeid was proven right. Tomorrow, session resumes at 10 am and Moussa stands for testimony.

Mervat, a lady testifying against Nour and involved in the forgery issues scorned the audience, Ghad supporters, Lawyers and Nour himself while in the cage spraying them all with two bottles of water and calling them the worst names you can hear. Nour totally ignored her as if she did not exist. Today he seemed more concerned than ever. A concern that shows the party is facing a crucial storm with 4 members turning against Nour, isolating him, and taking procedures towards forming a party. “It will take us at least three years to establish a new party if el Ghad is frozen” said Gameela. A comment that shows how serious the situation is. The group of rivals against Nour includes Ragab Hilal Hemeida, a man who is widely unpular and irrespectable, and is headed by Moussa Mostafa Moussa, who was highly entrusted by Nour. Moussa will be called on the session of September 26 to testify in the forgery case. It is highly expected that after all the party divisions his testimony will be against Nour. “The case will run in court for at least six months” says Ihab el Kholy, another Nour’s lawyer. Meanwhile, Nour himself said “They are trying to prevent me from being in the parliament on the 27th (the day Mubarak swears in) because they know what I will say” he continues “but we will never let it just pass quietly like that”.

Monday, 10 am, South Cairo court at Bab el Khalq, the Nour trilogy continues.