Ludmilla blog

Egyptian Nobel laureate Zewail: Mubarak must leave

CAIRO – Egyptian-American scholar and Nobel laureate Ahmed Zewail added his weight Sunday to calls for President Hosni Mubarak to step down to help end the standoff with anti-government protesters.

Zewail, who has been living in the United States, returned to Egypt Sunday and met with government officials and young protesters to help mediate a resolution as protests continued for a 13th day.

"I call on President Hosni Mubarak, leader of the largest country in the Middle East, to give up power to another leader and make history in the Middle East," he said at a news conference.

Zewail, winner of the 1999 Nobel Prize in chemistry, met with Vice President Omar Suleiman, who is leading talks with the opposition for the government. Zewail also met with religious leaders and with Arab League chief Amr Moussa, who has put his name forward as a possible presidential candidate.

"We are at a crossroads in Egypt and we need a clear vision," said Zewail, who has called for political and educational reforms in Egypt in the past.

He said he was optimistic after meeting with young protesters for seven hours to understand their demands.

Zewail said he believed a solution would involve amending the constitution, setting a timeline for free elections, canceling emergency laws, freeing political prisoners and respecting press freedom.

On Sunday, Sulieman met with major opposition groups for the first time and offered new concessions including freedom of the press, the release of those detained since anti-government protests began nearly two weeks ago and the eventual lifting of the hated emergency laws.