A deal backed by the United States has been struck to ensure Amr Moussa, former Arab League chief, contests for the presidency in Egypt, and once elected, will then choose Dr. Mohamed ElBaradei as his deputy. The surprising claim was made by a former Egyptian Cabinet member, who served under ousted leader Hosni Mubarak. The well-known lawyer, who did not want to be named, spoke to Saudi Gazette exclusively here Sunday on his way to perform Umrah. The source said ElBaradei, the Nobel Peace Prize laureate, only dropped out to make way for Moussa. Once Moussa gains the top leadership position, he will then choose ElBaradei as his second-in-command, added the source, who was responsible for remote regions of Egypt under the Mubarak regime. ElBaradei has been quoted as saying he dropped out of the presidential race because the Egyptian military refused to relinquish its hold on power, and that he would work outside the official Egyptian power structure. Under the deal, Moussa will now head into the presidential elections later this year at the helm of a coalition of youth and liberals, the source told Saudi Gazette. The source added that the arrangement was discussed with Jimmy Carter, the former US president, and has been blessed by President Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, the US Secretary of State. “On the surface it looks as if Carter is in Cairo for the Egyptian elections. He may well be but this does not tell the whole story. He is a contact and channel between the current administration and a number of hopeful Egyptian politicians, to ensure no surprises come out of the Egyptian political campaigns,” he said. The source added that the results of the parliamentary elections came as a shock to many Egyptian politicians. “Not even in their wildest dreams could they have imagined that the Islamists would have so much support from the people. The Islamists are smart, they know what people need now,” he added. The source went on to add that there is an understanding that the Military Council would loosen up its hold on political life when it is assured that the new president would not take extreme political decisions especially regarding foreign relations. The source added that Moussa has “friends in all parties” and that the deal was discussed during the last visit of Jeff Feltman, US Assistant Secretary of State. The deal has also been given the nod by the current transitional government and the current prime minister, the source said. Asked if the deal would fit in well with the current political mood, he said: “Listen, Moussa does not appeal to all the Arabs. I think some of the Gulf states and the Saudis will take a wait-and-see stance until they can come to a better understanding.” Asked if the new constitution, when approved, would change matters, the source laughed. “This is why the presidential elections will take place before outlining the new constitution. It serves everybody's interests, even the so-called Islamists, the Muslim Brotherhood and the Salafis are in agreement with it. We are coming to a state of détente comforting to all,” he added. __
