Muslim Brotherhood to back ElBaradei

Cairo, 07 June-(ANA)-Egypt's biggest opposition group has said it will back the former UN atomic watchdog chief Mohamed ElBaradei's political change campaign, reports say.

The Muslim Brotherhood failed to win any seats in elections to the upper legislative house on Wednesday.

It alleged the vote for the Shura Council had been rigged.

Mr ElBaradei has launched a campaign for political change in Egypt, but has not officially declared he will contest elections next year.

The Muslim Brotherhood said it would help Mr ElBaradei collect signatures in his efforts to gather a million names to demand changes to the constitution and emergency laws, news agency Reuters said.

President Hosni Mubarak and his ruling National Democratic Party have governed Egypt for the past three decades. He instigated tight security controls which critics say stifle political dissent.

Mr ElBaradei said he would run for president only if the constitution were changed to allow a fair election.

The Muslim Brotherhood is banned in Egypt, but its members have been elected to the lower chamber of parliament as independent candidates. (ANA)

FA/ANA/07 June 2010--------------