The imprisoned leader of Egypt's liberal Ghad party has been taken to hospital after his health deteriorated on the eighth day of a hunger strike. Ayman Nour is refusing to eat in protest at being detained on forgery charges, his wife said on Saturday. Nour, who came a distant runner up in September's presidential election, is a diabetic, and doctors said the hunger strike could lead to a coma and eventually death as his blood becomes more acidic, damaging his vital organs. Gameela Ismail, Nour's wife and spokeswoman, said: "He has been moved to the prison hospital, suffering from a high level of acetone in his blood and urine, which eventually leads to a coma and threatens his life." Nour was imprisoned on 5 December for the duration of his trial, along with six others, on accusations they forged the papers required for his party to be officially recognised last year. The verdict is due on 24 December.