The only man challenging President Hosni Mubarak in the coming election was charged Tuesday with forging signatures to win approval for his party - an escalation in the government's confrontation with the most prominent figure in Egypt's fledgling reform movement. The challenger, Ayman Nour, 40, said he relished a court fight that he maintained would give him a platform for his campaign and his criticism of Mr. Mubarak's government. No date for a trial has been set. "I'm personally the happiest person in Egypt by this decision, because every session of this trial will be a chance to meet our people and supporters," he said. "The regime will stand trial in this court." Prosecutors accused Mr. Nour of forging the signatures required for the registration application of his party, Ghad, or Tomorrow. He denies the charges, saying they are an effort to wreck him politically. Mr. Nour was detained in January without charge - creating tension between Egypt and the United States, which demanded his release. The dispute came as Washington was pressing Egypt to lead democratic reform in the Middle East. After Mr. Mubarak opened the door for multiparty elections last month, Mr. Nour announced from jail his bid to run in the September presidential election, then repeated it last week after his release.