Wednesday, September 08, 2010

ElBaradei calls for Egypt election boycott

Middle East Online, First Published 2010-09-07


‘The next few months will be decisive for reform’

Ex IAEA chief will press on with campaign to gather signatures ‘for change’ before organising ‘peaceful protests’ for reform.


CAIRO – Mohamed ElBaradei, the former UN nuclear chief turned Egyptian reformer, has called for a boycott of a general election due later this year, an independent daily reported on Tuesday.

“We will boycott the upcoming election because anyone taking part will be acting against the will of the people,” ElBaradei said, according to the Shorouk newspaper.

Egypt is due to go to the polls for a parliamentary election in November ahead of a presidential election due next year.

ElBaradei, 68, has ruled out standing in next year’s vote unless the constitution, which places restrictions on independent candidates, is reformed.

Veteran President Hosni Mubarak, 82, has not yet said whether he will stand again, but is widely believed to be grooming his son Gamal for the succession.

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