The former Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency Mohamed ElBaradei held a conference yesterday in Menyat Sammanoud in Daqahlia where he spoke of the need for political reform. Livelihoods are linked to changing the constitution, said ElBaradei, who is also a potential contender for the 2011 presidential election. "Political reform will pave the way to all kinds of reform in Egypt," he added. ElBaradei called on the people to sign a pro-reform statement entitled, "Together We Can Introduce Change." By signing the statement, ElBaradei said, people will send a peaceful and clear message to the regime that the entire nation supports change. Asked if he is advocating secularism, ElBaradei said that such a term has no place among Egyptians. He added that Muslims and Christians in Egypt must be equal and have the right to perform their religious rituals. In related news, ElBaradei visited a medical center in Mansoura before performing Friday prayers at the Nour Mosque. The imam reportedly delivered a short sermon in which he prayed for President Mubarak's health and stressed the importance of obedience to those in charge. Following the prayers, ElBaradei toured Hosni Mubarak Street with around 1000 of his supporters, who sang the national anthem and chanted slogans. Translated from the Arabic Edition.
