http://www.smh.com.au/world/cairo-islamists-turn-on-elbaradei-20110320-1c27w.html
Cairo Islamists turn on ElBaradei Mona Salem, Cairo March 21, 2011 Islamist protesters in a poor Cairo neighbourhood attack moderate opposition leader Mohamed ElBaradei. Photo: AFP ISLAMISTS hurled stones and shoes at Mohamed ElBaradei, Nobel laureate and a secular contender for Egypt's presidency, as he tried to vote in a referendum on constitutional amendments. ''We don't want you,'' they shouted, throwing stones, shoes and water at the former UN nuclear watchdog chief as he turned up at a Cairo polling station, five weeks after president Hosni Mubarak was ousted. ''He lives in the United States and wants to rule us, it's out of the question,'' one of them said. Advertisement: Story continues below ''We don't want an American agent,'' said another. Dr ElBaradei, who was hit in the back by a stone thrown from a crowd of hundreds, was forced to retreat to his car and leave without voting at the polling station in Muqattam, a largely poor district in south Cairo. His brother Ali said he was unhurt in the attack. An official from the Muslim Brotherhood, the largest and most organised opposition movement, denied members of his group were involved. ''There are many types of Islamists. It's impossible that it was Muslim Brotherhood members - 100 per cent impossible. We work with ElBaradei and co-ordinate with him,'' Gamal Nassar said. An estimated 45 million Egyptians were asked to say ''yes'' or ''no'' to a package of constitutional changes intended to guide the country through presidential and parliamentary elections within six months. The main advocates of a ''yes'' vote have been the Muslim Brotherhood and elements of the former ruling National Democratic Party. The Muslim Brotherhood - by far the best-organised bloc in the country despite being outlawed under Mr Mubarak - would benefit from quick elections against loosely organised political factions that gelled during the 18-day revolution that began in January. Dr ElBaradei, who opposes the planned changes, is widely respected on the world stage for his work as an international diplomat. But under the Mubarak regime he was accused of being out of touch with the reality of Egyptian life. AFP, MCT [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
