ElBaradei seeks common goals, MB says

CAIRO, June 7 (UPI) -- There is no connection between the Muslim Brotherhood defeat in Egyptian elections and a decision to back Mohammed ElBaradei, leaders said from Cairo.

The outlawed Muslim Brotherhood ran 12 candidates in Tuesday elections for the Shura council, the upper house of parliament.

The ruling National Democratic Party of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak scored well in Tuesday's election as expected. The Muslim Brotherhood said its supporters were intimidated at the poll, adding it expected a poor showing.

Voter turnout for Shura council elections is historically low.

Muslim Brotherhood leaders said none of the Shura council candidates, who ran as independents, won seats in the election

Rashad Bayoumi, a member of the Muslim Brotherhood's guidance council, said the outcome of the poll had little to do with the decision to support ElBaradei, Egyptian newspaper al-Masry al-Youm reports.

"We support him in any case because we agree with his views on political and democratic reform," he said.

ElBaradei, the former head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, returned to Cairo in February amid rumors he may challenge the 82-year-old Mubarak in 2011 elections.

He has brushed off specifics on his political intentions, saying he was serving primarily as an agent of change.