Egypt’s opposition Al Ghad party members clashed, Thursday, and set ablaze the party’s downtown Cairo headquarters. The party has been in shambles since its leader, Ayman Nour, was sentenced to prison for allegedly forging signatures to establish the political organization. Once the strongest opposition party in Egypt, when Nour came in a distant second to President Hosni Mubarak in the country’s first multi-party elections in 2005. Thursday’s clash between rival factions of the party highlight how far down Al Ghad has come in recent years. According to security officials, at least 7 people were injured when rival supporters hurled stones and bottles at each other. Members loyal to Nour, who was rejected as the party’s leader in 2007 after finding himself behind bars, and those loyal to current head Mussa Mustapha, “clashed violently”. Firemen arrived at the scene as the fire began to spread. According to Nour’s wife, Gameela Ismail, a number of members were trapped on the upper floors. Five people were arrested, Ghad members told reporters, and a number of others were hospitalized with minor injuries. The fire was brought under control late Thursday and the building was evacuated.
