Mousa sees road 'blocked' to Egyptian presidency

Cairo :  Amr Mousa, who served as Egypt's foreign minister for ten years, has ruled out running for the country's presidency "under the current conditions."

"I see very many obstacles to nomination for this top post," Mousa, who is the Arab League chief, told the independent newspaper Al Masry Al Youm.

Last month, Mousa hinted that he might stand for presidency in the 2011 elections. But in the remarks published yesterday, he said that if he considered running for presidency, he would have to join one of the political parties in existence, in compliance with recent constitutional amendments. "I won't do this. It's a matter of principle," he said.

Under the same constitution, people wishing to vie for Egypt's presidency as independents have to get at least 250 endorsements from the two houses of parliament and the local councils, which are dominated by the ruling National Democratic Party.

"As an independent [candidate], how can you get endorsement from 250 members? I am a practical man who does not need more fame by [being nominated] ... for presidency," he said.

Popular politician

"The road to presidential nomination is blocked under the current conditions," said Mousa, who is one of the popular politicians among ordinary Egyptians due to his rhetoric against Israel and the US. Egypt had its first competitive presidential election in 2005, in which President Hosni Mubarak was re-elected.

Mubarak, who has been in power for over 28 years, has yet to say if he will seek a fresh six-year term.

Ex-chief of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Mohammad Al Baradei, has recently said he is considering running for Egypt's presidency, but he conditioned the move on getting guarantees for fair and honest elections.