FORMER UN nuclear weapons chief leader Mohamed ElBaradei returned to his homeland last night and in an impromptu press conference said he would join demonstrators in the capital today in a fourth day of anti-government protests inspired by the revolt that toppled Tunisia’s leader.
“This is a critical time in the life of Egypt and I have come to participate with the Egyptian people,” he said. “The regime has not been listening.
“If people, in particular young people, if they want me to lead the transition, I will not let them down. My priority right now . . . is to see a new regime and to see a new Egypt through peaceful transition.”
Mr ElBaradei (68), who tried and failed to launch a populist reform movement last year, added: “I advise the government to listen to the people and not to use violence. There’s no going back. I hope the regime stops violence, stops detaining people, stops torturing people. This will be completely counterproductive.”
Yesterday Egyptians determined to topple President Hosni Mubarak after 30 years in power sustained their protest for a third day yesterday, defying a ban on demonstrations and braving rubber bullets, tear gas and water cannon of the security forces.
A police post in the canal city of Suez was set on fire and protesters were chased by truncheon-wielding police through the streets of Cairo. The number of demonstrators swelled in the later part of the day as work ended. Organisers have called for mass protests today, the weekly holiday, following noon communal prayers at mosques.
At least four protesters and two policemen have been killed in clashes which began on Tuesday when tens of thousands of men and women inspired by events in Tunisia, poured into the streets.
Demonstrators demanded the president’s resignation, an end to martial law, political liberalisation and jobs and bread for the 40 million Egyptians, half the population, who live on $2 a day.
Yesterday analyst Amr Hamzawy said the only arm of the government that had responded to the protests had been the security apparatus. He asked why the president, who made his career in the airforce, had not addressed the people.
Interior minister Habib al-Adly said defiantly: “Egypt’s system is not marginal or frail. We are a big state, with an administration with popular support. The millions will decide the future of this nation, not demonstrators even if numbered in the thousands . . . Our country is stable and not shaken by such actions.”
Mr Hamzawy said the protests were being mounted spontaneously by a cross section of people, a departure from rallies staged by the small, weak secular opposition parties and the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood. – (additional reporting Guardianservice)