Egypt to investigate those calling for vote boycott
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CAIRO -- Egypt's prosecutor general has launched an investigation into leading opposition figures who have called for a boycott of next month's presidential election, over accusations they are attempting to "overthrow the regime."
Nabil Sadeq's office in a statement late Monday said it had referred a complaint filed against 13 individuals by a lawyer named Mohammed Hamid Salam to the Giza prosecutor's office, which may now call them in for examination.
The move is yet another sign that authorities will not allow even the slightest questioning of President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi's continued rule ahead of the March vote, in which he is the only serious candidate despite a last-minute bid launched by a supporter.
A coalition of eight opposition parties and some 150 prominent pro-democracy figures, including former presidential candidate Hamdeen Sabahi, announced a boycott last month. The complaint accuses them of "incitement against the state" and trying to destabilize the country.
