Mohamed ElBaradei has started using Twitter to connect with his supporters, following the example of Barack Obama's successful 2008 US presidential campaign. The 67-year-old Nobel Peace Prize winner and possible contender for the Egyptian presidency currently has 1572 followers on the popular micro-blogging platform. In his first discussion via Twitter, ElBaradei said he is happy to see Egyptians "break down the barriers of fear and work together for change." ElBaradei heads the pro-democracy coalition the National Association for Change (NAC). In one of his Twitter posts, ElBaradei said: "I was sad during my visit to the church when several Copts said they felt oppressed as a minority in Egypt." In other news, the pro-democracy 6 April Youth Movement announced it is organizing a peaceful march today from Tahrir Square to the People's Assembly, followed by a protest in front of the parliament. Independent and Muslim Brotherhood representatives from the People's Assembly are reportedly going to participate in the protests that will push for the abolition of the Emergency Law, and amendments to Articles 76, 77 and 88 of the Constitution--two of the main demands put forward by ElBaradei's NAC. Sources close to ElBaradei said he will not participate in the march or the protest. NAC spokesperson Hamdi Qandil said the association didn't call on its members to join today's protest because "the association has members with different political affiliations." However, Qandil assured that many members of the NAC would participate in the protests, but not on behalf of the association. Ayman Nour, founder of the liberal Ghad Party, said the Interior Ministry denied him permission to hold a conference in Talaat Harb Square today to announce his election platform. Nour said that this proves the falsity of the "regime's claims that the Emergency Law is used against terrorists and drug dealers only." The Emergency Law, which has been in force since 1981, criminalizes gatherings of more than five people. Nour said he will participate in the 6 April Youth march and protest and will then visit the Nile Delta city of Mahalla to mark the second anniversary of a strike there. Translated from the Arabic Edition.
