ElBaradei urges US to abandon Mubarak

Leading Egyptian dissident Mohamed ElBaradei has urged Washington to give up its unwavering support for President Hosni Mubarak and his government.

ElBaradei made remarks in a series of interviews with US television networks from Cairo on Sunday.

He also advised the US president Barak Obama to stand with the Egyptian people.

“It is better for President Obama not to appear that he is the last one to say to President Mubarak, ‘It’s time for you to go,” he told CNN.

“The American government cannot ask the Egyptian people to believe that a dictator who has been in power for 30 years would be the one to implement democracy. This is a farce,” ElBaradei told the CBS program ‘Face the Nation.’

“This first thing which will calm the situation is for Mubarak to leave, and leave with some dignity. Otherwise I fear that things will get bloody. And you (the United States) have to stop the life support to the dictator and root for the people.”

The opposition figure, ElBaradei, was among the protesters. He said an uprising against President Hosni Mubarak’s rule cannot go back. He assured the crowd that they are going to witness a big change over the next few days.

Egyptian opposition groups have called on ElBaradei to negotiate with the government of the embattled president.

The leading member of the Muslim Brotherhood Essam el-Eryan has said the opposition groups support talks with the government, if they are led by ElBaradei.

The former head of the UN atomic body, the IAEA, returned to Egypt on Thursday, just in time for the Day of Wrath protests.

He has been an outspoken critic of the Mubarak government, frequently calling on him to step down and pave the way for free elections.

Tens of thousands of people have gathered around the Tahrir Square at the city center, despite heavy army presence.

Military helicopters and fighter jets keep hovering over the square in low altitude.

A Press TV correspondent says live rounds have been fired at some protesters.

But there is no update on the number of casualties. Our correspondent said protesters blame the US for what they call its direct hand in keeping President Mubarak in power.

At least 150 have been killed and thousands more injured in clashes since anti-government rallies began on Tuesday.