The Hill News

Egyptian opposition leader Dr. Mohamed ElBaradai said that there is a significant fear that the Egyptian government could come back against demonstrators "with a vengeance."

"There is a huge lack of confidence between the government and the demonstrators," he said on NBC's "Meet the Press," adding that there is a "good bit of fear that the government will retrench and then come back."

ElBaradei, former head of the International Atomic Energy Agency and recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize, went on to complain that the outgoing regime of President Hosni Mubarak is overseeing the power transition, leaving out members of the opposition that are forcing him out.

“The process is managed by the outgoing regime without the involvement of the new opposition," he said.

However, he added that Mubarak deserved to leave his post "with dignity," adding that the president does not have to leave Egypt altogether.

Mubarak is "welcome to stay in Egypt and tre! ated with the respect he deserves as a former president of Egypt," ElBaradei said. "He doesn’t have to leave Egypt at all, he’s an Egyptian...but he has to cede power."

"The regime, which he represents, lost legitimacy."

ElBaradai added that recent comments from former ambassador and the president's special envoy to Egypt Frank Wisner that Mubarak stay in power to steer the transition "came down here like a piece of lead."

"The U.S., at the beginning, has been behind the curve. I think they have caught up in the past few days," he said. "What people expect here is not the U.S. is going to effect change in Egypt, but the U.S. has to be very clear that they are on the side of the people."

Suggestions that the Egypt is not prepared for free and fair democratic elections after Mubarak's departure amount to "almost an insult," he added.