Disagree with ElBaradei's inclusion of the Muslim Brotherhood

The Brotherhood rejects civil state, women's and Copts' rights.

Members of the coalition of Egyptian opposition parties--which includes the Wafd, Tagammu, Nasserist and Democratic Front parties--say they disagree with Mohamed ElBaradei's inclusion of the Muslim Brotherhood in the national opposition front that he inaugurated last week.

"ElBaradei thinks he can unite the Egyptian opposition, including the Muslim Brotherhood, whose ideas we reject," said president of the leftist Tagammu Party Refaat el-Saeed. "The Brotherhood rejects the establishment of a civil state, as well as women's and Copts' rights."

ElBaradei, the former director of the International Atomic Energy Agency, has rejuvenated Egypt's opposition by announcing that he would consider running for president in 2011 if elections are free and fair. Over 1000 people greeted ElBaradei at the airport when he arrived in Egypt on 19 February.

El-Saeed added that ElBaradei doesn't sufficiently recognize the differences between Egyptian opposition parties. ElBaradei's alliance with the Brotherhood, El-Saeed said, will drag the country backwards, at a time when "we are demanding pluralism and respect for human rights."

Meanwhile, Usama el-Ghazali Harb, president of the liberal Democratic Front Party and former ruling party member, said he disagrees with el-Saeed. "The Muslim Brotherhood is politically active and has a parliamentary bloc of around 88 MPs in the People's Assembly," he said.

El-Ghazali added that he is more inclined to integrate the Brotherhood into the opposition rather than exclude them, despite profound disagreements between his party and the Muslim Brotherhood.

El-Ghazali said his party is committed to its agreements with the opposition coalition.

Hassan Nafaa, coordinator of the Egyptian Campaign Against Presidential Succession and member of ElBaradei's front, said that coordination between the Muslim Brotherhood and other opposition parties will help bring about change in Egypt.