Former U.N. nuclear watchdog head, Nobel laureate and likely candidate for his country’s presidency, Mohamed ElBaradei has continued to position himself as a leading political figure in Egypt by taking part in a large-scale protest Friday over the death of a man at the hands of plainclothes policemen.

ElBaradei, back in Egypt after working at the United Nations for more than a decade, is expected to be the leading opposition figure to challenge President Hosni Mubarak. –JCL

The Guardian:

Mohamed ElBaradei, the former head of the UN nuclear watchdog, joined about 4,000 Egyptians at a rare large-scale street protest today, in his most direct challenge to President Hosni Mubarak since returning to the country earlier this year.

The Nobel laureate turned opposition figurehead joined the sit-in in Alexandria over the case of a man allegedly killed by plainclothes policemen.

Numerous witnesses say Khaled Said, 28, died after being kicked and punched by the officers before eventually smashing his head against a marble shelf in an internet cafe on 6 June . Security officials claim Said died of asphyxiation after he swallowed a packet of narcotics hidden under his tongue.

Read more

Your support matters…

Independent journalism is under threat and overshadowed by heavily funded mainstream media.

You can help level the playing field. Become a member.

Your tax-deductible contribution keeps us digging beneath the headlines to give you thought-provoking, investigative reporting and analysis that unearths what's really happening- without compromise.

Give today to support our courageous, independent journalists.

SUPPORT TRUTHDIG