Former nuclear watchdog head Mohamed ElBaradei, tipped as a possible opposition Egyptian presidential contender, said a decision on entering the 2011 race would be contingent on guarantees of a fair election.
ElBaradei also laid out a series of other tough conditions for mounting a campaign that Cairo has long shown no signs of addressing, including a demand for a new constitution that would better respect human rights and put checks on power.
Some voices in Egypt's opposition, hoping to block President Hosni Mubarak from passing on power to his politician son, have urged ElBaradei to run, hoping to capitalise on his reputation at the helm of the International Atomic Energy Agency.
"I have followed with great concern the opinions and voices that call me to nominate myself in the coming Egyptian presidential elections," ElBaradei said in a statement. He said he wanted judicial supervision of the vote, UN monitoring and equal coverage for all candidates by state media.
"This will send a clear message to the world that there is true reform and change in Egypt," he said, adding he wanted a national consensus in favour of his candidacy before deciding.
Under Egypt's election rules, ElBaradei would realistically have to hold a leadership post for at least a year in a political party represented in parliament to be eligible to run.
Egyptian media have speculated that opposition parties might court ElBaradei, hoping he could join the leadership of their parties in time to ensure eligibility.
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