Kuwait has arrested seven Egyptian expatriates for planning to set up an association to support Mohammad El Baradei, the former head of the UN nuclear watchdog, and potential contender in the 2011 presidential elections in Egypt.
Kuwaiti media on Saturday reported that security officials have prevented around 30 Egyptians from holding a meeting on Friday evening to launch a Kuwaiti branch of the newly formed National Association for Change, the formation seeking to build a consensus for constitutional amendments and change in the Egyptian political establishment.
Under the current constitution, El Baradei has to join a political party to run for president, an option that the 61-year-old former nuclear watchdog chief vehemently rejects. As an independent candidate, El Baradei must have the endorsement of at least 250 elected officials including members from the upper and lower houses of parliament and municipal councils.
“The police were aware of electronic messages sent by four Egyptians calling for a meeting at the beach front Sultan Restaurant in Salmiya,” Kuwaiti security sources said. “The police went to the restaurant and told around 30 Egyptians that the meeting could not proceed on the grounds that it was political activism and expatriates could not set up political associations. Eventually, seven from the group were transferred for investigation,” the unnamed sources told Al Rai daily. continue reading…
