ElBaradei’s party condemns his resignation

The Dostour Party, co-founded by Mohamed ElBaradei, met his decision to resign from his post as vice president with condemnation.

Members of the party in Suez, Fayoum, and other governorates denounced ElBaradei's resignation, submitted after scores died in the violent dispersal of two pro-Morsi sit-ins in Cairo by security forces Wednesday.

Some members resigned in protest, while others demanded that ElBaradei himself resign from the party. 

Party leader Ahmed Darrag also resigned in protest, saying that he considers ElBaradei's decision an abandonment of his country at a time of need and that it does not represent the party's position. 

The Tamarod campaign, which initiated the June 30 protests against then President Mohamed Morsi whose supporters were dispersed today, said in a statement that it considered ElBaradei's resignation to be a way of evading responsibility.

The National Salvation Front, an opposition block formed under Morsi's rule that encompassed liberal parties, said in a statement that it regretted the news of the resignation and that ElBaradei did not consult the front before making the announcement.

The NSF said his resignation will not diminish its support of the government and its road map, and announced that it strongly stands behind the president, the government, the Armed Forces, and all state institutions in their battle for the security of the nation.

ElBaradei wrote in his resignation letter that he had suggested peaceful solutions to end the state of tension. "It has become difficult for me to continue holding responsibility for decisions that I don't agree with and the consequences of which I fear, and I can't bear responsibility for one drop of blood in front of God, my conscience, and the people, especially as I believe that it could have been avoided," he added.

ElBaradei co-founded Dostour Party in April 2012 with Shokry Fouad.