During a tour of Gharbia governorate on Saturday, presidential candidate Ahmed Shafiq said he was unfazed by criticism of his campaign, saying no contender would get the unanimous support of voters.

Shafiq stated that people had disagreed with him before, during and after the revolution, stressing that disagreements do not necessarily mean hostility.       

For several months after serving as Mubarak's final and shortest-serving prime minister, Shafiq kept a low profile.

The former commander of the Egyptian Air Force re-entered the public arena when he announced in December 2011 his intention to run for president. 

The first round of Egypt's presidential elections will take place on 23 and 24 May and the president will be named on 21 June after a runoff-voting round, if needed, on 16 and 17 June.

According to independent polls Shafiq is favoured by around 8 per cent of voters.