Possible presidential candidate Hamdīn Sabbāhī reiterated support for the implementation of the Islamic sharī'ah and maintaining the second article of the constitution, which, he said, respects all religions.

"The Islamic sharī'ah is one of compassion and tolerance and would never undermine the rights of any Christian," said Sabbāhī during a symposium with the students of the Faculty of Commerce, Alexandria University, on Tuesday (February 28).

He noted that Egypt has to take back its leading role in the Arab, African and Islamic arenas. ['Amr Hāfiz, al-Jumhūrīyah, Feb. 29, p. 6] Read text in Arabic