Mohamed Elbaradei may run for Egyptian presidency

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Mohamed Elbaradei may run for Egyptian presidency

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07 December,2009 10:33 am

Nobel Prize winner and outgoing head of the International Atomic Energy Agency Mohamed Elbaradei has responded for the first time to calls urging him to run in Egypt's 2011 presidential elections, saying he'd only enter the race if a free and fair vote could be guaranteed. I've been closely following calls for me to run in the next presidential elections. Though I deeply appreciate people's trust in my abilities, I'd like to make it clear that my final position will be determined upon a number of fundamental issues, ElBaradei said. Elections must be under the full supervision of the judiciary and in the presence of international observers from the United Nations to ensure transparency. On the other hand, Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak has yet to say whether he will run in the upcoming elections, raising concern that the 81-year-old leader is paving the way for his son, Gamal, to be the ruling National Democratic Party's (NDP) future nominee.ElBaradeis profileDr. Mohamed Mostafa ElBaradei has served as the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), an inter-governmental organization under the auspices of the United Nations from December 1997 to November 2009. An Egyptian, ElBaradei and the IAEA were jointly awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2005.