ElBaradei: I don't believe Mubarak should be put on trial
Egyptian opposition leader says Egypt should look forward, but Mubarak should give money back he took from the Egyptian people.
By JPOST.COM STAFFMohamed ElBaradei speaking bullhorn 311 AP(photo credit: AP)
Leading Egyptian opposition figure Mohammed ElBaradei on Friday said that he did not believe that newly resigned Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak should be tried for crimes he committed against the Egyptian people during his 30 year dictatorship."We don't need to worry about retribution at this stage. Mubarak needs to go with dignity. Let's focus on the future. We need a country at peace with itself," ElBaradei said in an interview with CNN.RELATED:Egypt's Mubarak steps down as presidentElBaradei did, however, say that he believed Mubarak and other Egyptian officials should be forced to give money back that was taken from the Egyptian people."This is money that is owed to the Egyptian people. We don't need a trial, but that money is one of our priorities. We need the money for development," ElBaradei stated.The opposition leader said that he hoped the Obama administration would say "loud and clear" that the US supports the Egyptian people and would never support an authoritarian regime in the country again. He added that the Egyptian people needed their confidence in the US government and its commitment to democracy restored.ElBaradei said that he felt "a sense of liberation" for himself and all Egyptians when Omar Suleiman made the announcement that Mubarak was stepping down.He said that he hoped the army, who were handed the reins of the country by Mubarak, will realize that the people are in control. ElBaradei said that the Egyptian people would have to be "vigilant" to guarantee fair and free elections."We need to go back to law and order," said ElBaradei. "We need to go back from a country that was going down the drain to a country that is looking to the future."ElBaradei said that he believed the country would need a year-long period to prepare the infrastructure for free elections.
