Leading dissident and former UN nuclear watchdog chief Mohamed ElBaradei arrived from Vienna on Thursday in Cairo, where, according to his brother, he will join anti-government protests.
"It is a critical time in the life of Egypt. I have come to participate with the Egyptian people," said ElBaradei as he left Cairo airport, where he was greeted by a small group of supporters.
"The desire for change must be respected," he said. "The regime must not use violence in the demonstrations."
"I am still here hoping to continue to manage the process of change in orderly way, in a peaceful way, I hope the regime will do the same," ElBaradei said.
"I hope the regime will stop violence, stop detaining, stop torturing people," he continued, stressing that he will join protests planned for Friday.
The Nobel peace laureate and said Thursday he was ready to "lead the transition" in Egypt if asked, as he left Vienna for Cairo.
Pro-democracy activists vowed on Thursday to step up the largest anti-government protests in Egypt in three decades, despite mass arrests and mammoth security.
The protests against Mubarak's autocratic rule, inspired by the groundbreaking "Jasmine Revolution" in Tunisia, have sent shockwaves across the region and prompted Washington to prod its long-time ally on democratic reforms.
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