Egypt presidential hopeful says UAE bars him from leaving

Egyptian ex-premier Ahmed Shafiq said Wednesday the United Arab Emirates had barred him from leaving the country, which the UAE denied, only hours after an announcement he would run for president in his homeland next year.

"I was surprised that I was banned from leaving the brotherly nation of the United Arab Emirates, for reasons I do not understand," Shafiq said in a video message sent to AFP.

"I was intending to carry out a tour among the Egyptian diaspora before returning to my country in the next few days," said the former prime minister.

In response, UAE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Anwar Gargash said on his official Twitter account that "the UAE affirms there is no obstacle" to Shafiq's departure from the country.

Gargash said Shafiq's claims were disappointing especially after "we facilitated (his move) and offered him kind hospitality" after Shafiq "took refuge in the Emirates upon fleeing Egypt" in 2012.

Shafiq's candidacy could see him stand against President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, who has yet to officially declare his candidacy but looks all but certain to run in and dominate the election next year.

While thanking the UAE for hosting him, Shafiq said "I reject this interference in the internal affairs of my country".

But he promised Egyptians he would not back down from his pledge to take part in the presidential election.

Earlier in the day, two aides told AFP that Shafiq decided to run in the 2018 presidential elections.

In a video sent later by an aide, Shafiq said his decision to run in the election comes as "the country is currently facing many problems in all aspects of life".

These problems "have led to a deterioration in quality of all services provided to citizens," he said, mentioning rising public debt which would affect "the coming generations".

Shafiq said that "new blood" might be needed to lead the country so it can move forward.