Akef: Brotherhood won't run in 2011

This isn't really surprising: The Brotherhood is banned, so its candidates have to run as independents, and Egypt's constitution makes it nearly impossible for an independent to run for president.

With the Brotherhood officially out of the running, the issue of Egyptian succession in 2011 will hinge on two decisions. The first is whether a third party nominates a high-profile candidate: The Wafd party, for example, reportedly wants Mohamed ElBaradei to run on its ticket.

The second -- and, realistically, more important -- decision is whether the ruling National Democratic Party decides to run Gamal Mubarak or another candidate. Al-Jazeera says that decision is causing some friction at this week's NDP conference. Safwat el-Sherif, the secretary-general of the NDP, says the party will convene a special conference next year to select a nominee.

Akef, the Muslim Brotherhood leader, thinks Gamal's nomination is running into opposition from the military. He would be the first civilian president of Egypt since the revolution.

"Gamal will have no power as he will be controlled by the security apparatus. The security apparatus is what is driving the president and the government and everything," Akef said.

Hosni Mubarak, in his speech to open the NDP conference, dodged the question of who should run in 2011. He simply said Egypt needs "young leaders."

A bleg: Does anyone have a link to transcripts of Hosni's speech (and Gamal's) from the NDP conference?