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Egyptian Reformer Returns To Country Amid Protests

VOA News January 27, 2011

Egyptian reform campaigner Mohamed ElBaradei has returned to the country as protests continue against the government of President Hosni Mubarak.

ElBaradei arrived in Cairo on Thursday from his home in Austria. He told a small group of supporters who greeted him at the airport that it is a "critical time in the life of Egypt."

Earlier, the former head of the U.N. nuclear agency said that he planned to join demonstrators protesting against President Mubarak's 30-year-old rule. He also told reporters in Austria that he was willing to lead an opposition movement bent on regime change.

His arrival comes as clashes continue between Egyptian security forces and anti-government demonstrators.

Police fired tear gas and rubber bullets at protesters in Suez, Thursday. Protesters in the city set a government building and police post on fire late Wednesday.

Others attempted to firebomb the ruling National Democratic Party's local headquarters before police pushed them back with teargas. At least 55 people were hurt in the clashes.

Hundreds of protesters also clashed with police in the city of Ismailia.

Meanwhile, ruling party secretary general Safwat El-Sherif said Thursday the government is open to public dialogue with the country's youth, who have fueled many of the protests over the past few days.

Anti-government activists have used social media websites to call for a big protest Friday in Cairo.

The April 6th Youth movement, which has organized the protests through Facebook along with other groups, said it was planning a large demonstration after Friday prayers. The organizations say they speak for young Egyptians frustrated with the kind of poverty and oppression that triggered Tunisia's unrest.

On Wednesday, Egyptian riot police clashed with thousands of demonstrators for a second day in Cairo, firing rubber bullets and using tear gas and batons on protesters who defied a government ban on demonstrations.

At least four people have died in the protests.

British Foreign Secretary William Hague has urged Egypt to move towards political reform in order to calm the growing unrest. In an interview with the BBC, he said Egyptian leaders should move towards openness, transparency and greater political freedom.

The Egyptian government says at least 700 people have been arrested in the waves of unrest across the country. The anti-government rallies are the largest demonstrations that Egypt has seen in years.

Some information for this report was provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.