ElBaradei backers express frustration

CAIRO, June 9 (UPI) -- Egyptian opposition leader Mohammad ElBaradei isn't doing enough to advance political reform in Egypt, members of his association said in Cairo.

ElBaradei returned to Cairo in February following his tenure as the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency. The warm welcome he received fueled rumors he would run for president.

Hassan Naffa, a top official with ElBaradei's National Association for Change movement, wrote in the Egyptian daily newspaper al-Masry al-Youm that the Egyptian leader could do more on the political front.

"He thinks that collecting signatures for the change statement is the most important pillar of his campaign, while we believe that taking to the street is no less important," he complained.

Members of the ElBaradei movement have threatened to resign over their frustration with the change movement, the Emirati newspaper The National reports.

Waleed Rashed, a co-founder of ElBaradei's so-called change movement in Qatar, told The National in May that the political presence of the former IAEA chief was needed.

"It's not enough that he issues statements or responds on Twitter from abroad," he said.

ElBaradei hasn't committed to a presidential bid, saying he was acting only as an agent of change.

Hosni Mubarak, the 82-year-old Egyptian president, hasn't made his intentions known for the 2011 race.