Former nuclear watchdog and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Mohamed ElBaradei would run only as an independent in Egypt's 2011 presidency, if he decides to participate, he told a newspaper published Thursday. Egyptian media have speculated that opposition parties might court the former director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency as the most realistic way of getting his name on the ballot because analysts say rules make an independent nomination almost impossible. “I respect parties, but I am an independent man and cannot enter the election except as an independent,” ElBaradei told Egypt's daily Al-Masry Al-Youm, appearing to rule out running on an opposition party platform. “Entering the presidential election through a political party means I agree to the fake frame of political practices in Egypt and had granted this frame legitimacy,” he added.
