Leading Egyptian opposition figure Mohammed Elbaradei said on Tuesday that President Mohammed Mursi had threatened to “burn the country” if he became prime minister.

Elbaradei, citing former military leader Field Marshal Hussein Tantawi as the source of his information, added that the Muslim Brotherhood had “vetoed” the possibility of him ever becoming a prime minister.

In 2011, Egypt's then ruling military council was considering naming former International Atomic Energy Agency Chief ElBaradei as Cairo's new prime minister.

It is unclear when Mursi had allegedly threatened against ElBaradei's appointment as PM.

“It's been a year since Mursi became president, the Muslim Brotherhood has failed on a political, economic and security fronts,” Elbaradie told London-based al-Hayat newspaper.

“The time has come for Mursi to realize that his failure will lead to an early presidential election,” he said, adding that he won’t run for the next elections.

In the interview, Elbaradei accused the Muslim Brotherhood of hijacking the Jan. 25 revolution, saying "there is intense anger among young people who sparked the revolution because they feel that the revolution has been stolen away from them, and that their dream was stolen as well, it was a dream of the future."

“Young people represent 60 percent of the Egyptian society,” he added.

The majority of the Egyptian people revolted for the provision of basic needs, including economic hardships, but intermittent protests have continued ever since over what has been perceived to be a lack of change in the country.

Last Update: Wednesday, 20 May 2020 KSA 09:40 - GMT 06:40