29 Apr 2012

New party launched in Egypt

10:14 am on 29 April 2012

Nobel peace prize winner Mohamed ElBaradei has launched a new political party in Egypt.

He said in Cairo the Constitution Party will promote the goals of the revolution that overthrew former president Hosni Mubarak last year.

But the party has been formed too late to take part in next month's presidential election, which is being contested by 13 candidates. Voting will be held on 23 - 24 May.

Mr ElBaradei said its aim was to unite Egyptians behind democracy and to take power in four years time.

In January Mr ElBaradei ruled himself out of running for the presidency this year. He said on Saturday the new party would be above ideology.

Mr ElBaradei is the former head of the International Atomic Energy Agency.