Egypt candidate claims shooting down Israeli planes in war

Ahmad Shafiq. By Khaled Desouki (AFP/File)

CAIRO (AFP) - Egyptian presidential candidate Ahmed Shafiq's campaign boasted on Saturday that the former air force chief had shot down two Israeli planes during war, as it dismissed accusations of corruption.

Shafiq, former president Hosni Mubarak's last prime minister before an uprising toppled the dictator last year, claimed to have downed the planes during the War of Attrition which Egypt declared between 1969 and 1970.

"General Ahmed Shafiq has a great military record and career," his campaign statement said.

"Everyone recognised his achievements, starting with the downing of two Israeli planes during the War of Attrition, when the member of parliament (who accused Shafiq of corruption) was may be three years old," it said.

Lawmaker Essam Soltan had accused Shafiq of selling land at below market price to Mubarak's sons, who face trial with their father on corruption charges.

Mubarak also faces murder charges for the deaths of protesters during the revolt that ousted him on February 11, 2011.

Polls show Shafiq at third place in the May 23 and 24 presidential election, which will begin a power transfer by Egypt's military rulers to the elected president.

Mubarak was seen as a close regional ally of Israel, but the main contenders in this month's election say they want to revise a 1979 peace treaty with the Jewish state, which remains unpopular in Egypt.