ELBARADEI MAY CONTEST

Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak said that former UN nuclear chief Mohamed ElBaradei was welcome to run for the presidency if he wants. He said this while on Tour to Germany. Meanwhile ElBaradei, one of Egypt’s best-known international figures after leading the International Atomic Energy Agency, arrived home to a grand reception. His supporters want him to run for president in 2011. However, election rules make it almost impossible for any candidate to stage a realistic challenge against the one nominated by the ruling National Democratic Party (NDP). ElBaradei leads a coalition of opposition parties and other activists set up last week to press for political reform. Mubarak has not said whether he will run, but many Egyptians believe he will seek to hand the presidency to his son Gamal if he does not. Both the Mubaraks deny this. ElBaradei has become no less than a national hero and, if permitted to contest, he may prove to be a formidable candidate giving a good fight.