Egypt presidential poll bans on candidates upheld
A judicial panel found no new evidence was offered by the hopefuls, including ex-spy chief Omar Suleiman and Muslim Brotherhood leader Khairat al-Shater.
The ultraconservative Salafist, Hazem Abu Ismail, also lost his appeal. The three were considered front-runners.
The BBC's correspondent in Cairo says the decision reshapes the election.
A final list of candidates will be published on 26 April, when the election campaign officially begins.
Hundreds of supporters of Mr Abu Ismail are staging a sit-in outside the commission's headquarters in Cairo which is surrounded by military police and armoured cars.
When their candidate's rejection was announced, some of them threw stones and briefly scuffled with police.
Mr Abu Ismail also arrived at the building, telling supporters: "We are exposed to a conspiracy by parties that you cannot imagine. What is happening inside the committee is treachery to create divisions."
The first round of voting is scheduled on 23 and 24 May, after which there is expected to be a run-off between the top two candidates in June.
The ruling Supreme Council of the Armed Forces, which assumed presidential powers after Hosni Mubarak was forced to step down by an uprising last year, is due to hand over to the new president on 1 July.
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