A senior Egyptian politician who is intending to run for president has called for Egypt to “renegotiate” its peace treaty with Israel.

Despite reassurances from the military, which took over from President Hosni Mubarak after he relinquished power on Friday, that the Camp David Accords would stand, Dr Ayman Nur said the treaty was “over”.

Dr Nur, the leader of the secular Tomorrow Party, who was jailed under Mr Mubarak’s rule, told Egyptian radio: "The role of the Camp David accords…has ended. Egypt must at least renegotiate the terms of the accord."

His comments echoed those of Essam el-Erian, a high-ranking member of the Islamist Muslim Brotherhood organisation. Mr el-Erian said that the position on the treaty, signed in 1979, should be decided by the Egyptian people.