Egyptian opposition leader, Mohammed el-Baradei, addressed crowds of protesters defying the night-time curfew in Tahrir square in Cairo on 30 January. In his speech, El-Baradei predicted change within “the next few days”.

With the backing of the Muslim Brotherhood and other opposition parties, El-Baradei is continuing his rise in prominence.

El-Baradei received a rapturous reception when he arrived in Cairo in February 2010 after an absence of 12 years.

In an interview with the BBC, El-Baradei asserted that “[President] Mubarak has to go – immediately” as a first step followed by the restoration of order with the people and army in partnership and finally “free and fair elections and a democracy”.