In a flagrant breach of electoral law, presidential candidate Ahmed Shafiq tells journalists gathered in a campaign press conference at his lush villa headquarters in Dokki that "he is a man with an honourable history."

Within minutes, the Supreme Presidential Electoral Commission had referred Mubarak's former prime minster to the prosecutor-general's office, as all campaign activity was officially suspended on Monday ahead of Wednesday's vote.

Shafiq began the presser by dispelling yesterday's rumours that he was in a coma after being shot, which he believes were intended to spread anxiety and spark controversy during the election process. 

Shafiq assured his audience that he was the one who was going "to prevent Egypt from descending into a bloodbath" and that "those who scare Egyptians from voting from me want a weak president." 

Despite being ousted from the premiership by protesters in February 2011, Shafiq promised a "bright future" for Egypt's revolutionary youth and to "return the revolution" to the young demonstrators if he is elected president.  

One journalist challenged him by saying that he had worked with Egypt's past three presidents, but Shafiq responded that he was not working for the regimes but rather he had been "working for Egypt."