ElBaradei joins protesters in Cairo's Tahrir Square

Opposition figure met by chants of "the people want the regime to fall"; earlier, Nobel laureate calls on Mubarak to "leave today,"; Muslim Brotherhood throws support behind ElBaradei, gives him mandate to negotiate unity gov't.

By JPOST.COM STAFF, ASSOCIATED PRESS

JANUARY 30, 2011 18:47

Opposition figure Mohamed ElBaradei arrived at Cairo's Tahrir Square Sunday evening, as crowds swelled by the thousands over two hours into a government-imposed curfew. He was met by chants of: "The people want the regime to fall," according to Reuters.

ElBaradei spoke to the crowd gathered in the square for the fifth straight day but did not speak to reporters. Live television feeds from the square in central Cairo showed the opposition figure in the large crowds.

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Earlier Sunday, the Muslim Brotherhood threw its support behind ElBaradei to hold proposed negotiations with the government in order to form a new unity government.

Speaking to Al-Jazeera, Muslim Brotherhood official Essam el-Eryan said that "political groups support ElBaradei to negotiation with the regime."

ElBaradei, in an interview aired on CNN Sunday, said that Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak must leave the country immediately.

"It is loud and clear from everybody in Egypt that Mubarak has to leave today, and it is non-negotiable for every Egyptian." he said. He added that it should "be followed by a smooth transition [to] a national unity government to be followed by all the measures set in place for a free and fair election."

Click here for full Jpost coverage of unrest in Egypt

Addressing Mubarak's Friday night move to sack his entire cabinet, ElBaradei said, "I think this is a hopeless, desperate attempt by Mubarak to stay in power." He added that it "is loud and clear from everybody in Egypt that Mubarak has to leave today, and it is non-negotiable for every Egyptian."

The statements came as protests continued in central Cairo, where tens of thousands of protesters were reportedly gathered despite an announced curfew and strong military presence. Fighter jets swooped low over Cairo in what appeared to be an attempt by the military to show its control of a city beset by looting, armed robbery and anti-government protests.

Minutes before the start of a 4 p.m. curfew, at least two jets appeared and made multiple passes over downtown, including a central square where thousands of protesters were calling for the departure of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak.