Egypt's ElBaradei pulls out of presidential race

CAIRO?? Sources close to former global nuclear watchdog and Nobel peace prize winner Mohamed ElBaradei confirmed that he will be withdrawing from Egypt's presidential elections, NBC News reported.

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ElBaradei expressed his disappointment with the way the military has been leading the post-revolution transition to democratic rule.

He was a favorite among liberals and secularists. He is widely respected and had a strong following.

However, ElBaradei was not a clear frontrunner in the elections, scheduled to be held in June 2012. His departure will certainly leave a void among liberal and secularists political forces.

His departure will also raise questions about the credibility of the transitional process and the elections and what may have been happening behind the scenes with the military.

The military and Baradei have frequently butted heads over the past year.

Later Saturday, ElBaradei confirmed the news in a statement and said the military rulers who took over from ousted President Hosni Mubarak have governed "as if no revolution took place and no regime has fallen."

NBC News' Ayman Mohyeldin and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Source: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/45996332/ns/world_news-mideast_n_africa/

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