Wife of presidential hopeful Ahmed Shafiq succumbs to illness

Ahram Online, Friday 20 Apr 2012

Presidential frontrunner's wife passes away after long fight with illness; it remains uncertain how this development will impact Shafiq's presidential campaign

Azza Tawfiq, wife of presidential candidate Ahmed Shafiq, passed away on Friday afternoon at the EgyptAir Hospital in Cairo. 

According to Shafiq's official website (www.ahmedshafikeg.com), Tawfiq had been suffering from a long-term illness. Funeral services will be held on Saturday at the Thawra Mosque in Medinet Salem.

A former civil aviation minister, Shafiq was appointed prime minister by ousted president Hosni Mubarak at the height of last year's Tahrir Square uprising. He is currently considered a frontrunner in Egypt's upcoming presidential race.

It remains unclear how the death of his spouse will affect Shafiq's ongoing presidential campaign.

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