Egypt's election commission rejected on Tuesday all the appeals of 10 disqualified presidential candidates, a move that will reshape the competition for the presidency.

The Higher Presidential Election Commission "rejected all appeals filed by the candidates against their disqualification" after a meeting, said official MENA news agency.

The barred candidates include Khairat al-Shater of the Muslim Brotherhood, Salafist Hazem Salah Abou Ismail, former Vice President Omar Suleiman, and Ghad Al-Thawra Party leader Ayman Nour.

Ismail and his supporters began a sit-in outside the election premises after the final decision was announced.

The latest decision means that only 13 out of the 23 candidates are qualified for the presidential vote scheduled on May 23 and May 24. The commission will announce the final list on April 26.

Islamist Mohamed Aboul Fotouh, Freedom and Justice Party chairman Mohamed Morsi, former Arab League chief Amr Moussa and former Prime Minister Ahmed Shafik would be among the top hopefuls.

Morsi has been chosen by the Muslim Brotherhood as Shater's backup.

The election commission announced the list of barred candidates on Saturday. Shater and Nour were disqualified because of their previous imprisonment, while Suleiman did not present enough signatures as required.