Egyptian opposition figure Mohamed ElBaradei has claimed in a video that EU envoy Bernardino Leon was part of the talks that took place following the ouster of president Mohamed Morsi in July 2013.
“We Are All Khaled Said, a version for all Egyptians,” an anti-government Facebook page, released the video on Sunday. It shows ElBaradei making the comments at the European University Institute in May.
“In July 2013, I was part of an opposition [movement] but I said we needed an inclusive approach. What happened afterwards was not what I signed up for,” he said.
“I signed up for early presidential elections, I signed up for a dignified exit for Mr Morsi, I signed up for an inclusive approach which the Brotherhood and the Islamists would be part of, I signed up for a plan which was actually worked out by my friend Bernardino Leon, who is now trying to do the same thing in Libya,” he added.
“But then all this was thrown out of the window, violence started to take hold, and once violence started to take hold there was no place for someone like me. In a society where there is no clear concept of justice and consensus, nor is there any political space, I can have no effect or influence, nor can I be part of it,” the Constitution Party founder explained.
ElBaradei’s remarks sparked criticism from Muslim Brotherhood supporters, many of whom described him as a co-partner in a “military coup” against Morsi.
Following Morsi’s ouster, ElBaradei – a former head of the International Atomic Energy Agency – was appointed interim vice president. However, he resigned from his post on 14 August 2013 in protest at the violent dispersal of two sit-ins of Morsi supporters. The dispersal left 703 dead, according to a government-formed fact-finding committee. His resignation sparked harsh criticism.
ElBaradei left the country and is now living in Austria. He has put his political activity on hold, but has given a number of interviews to foreign media, in which he has been critical of Egypt’s current administration.
Recently, he indirectly criticised human rights abuses in Egypt via Twitter.
Source: Ahram Online
