Egypt’s ElBaradei says won’t run for presidency if Mursi steps down

Egyptian opposition leader Mohammed ElBaradei announced on Sunday that he will not run for the presidency even if elections were held earlier than expected, as demanded by foes of President Mohamed Mursi.

“President Mohamed Mursi has to acknowledge his failure in ruling and therefore has to submit his resignation. A new democratic system and constitution has to be built,” ElBaradei said during a conference at the ministry of culture.

ElBaradei, who is the head of Egypt’s Al Dostour Party and a leader at the country’s main opposition National Salvation Front (NSF), said that it is time to think of a post-Mursi era.

“I have come to an agreement with Hamdeen Sabahi, the leader of the Egyptian popular current and co-leader of the NSF, along with a group of youth to visualize what’s coming after Dr Mursi, hoping it would be a transition period,” he said.

Statements by ElBaradei come as opposition-backed campaign dubbed Tamarod, Arabic for rebellion, has called for a demonstration outside the presidential palace against Mursi on June 30, the first anniversary of his election.

Tamarod says it has gathered millions of signatures to a petition demanding that Mursi step down to pave the way for an early presidential election.

In a reaction, Islamist parties said they plan to organize a “million-man march” in front of Rabaa al-Adawiya mosque next Friday, to counter Tamarod’s protest at the end of the month