Jack Shenker has just rung in from Cairo with more details of ElBaradei comments at Cairo airport on his return to Egypt.

(GUARDIAN)

The opposition leader said he would be joining the protests on the streets tomorrow. He said there was no going back but warned that change would not happen overnight:

"This is a critical time in the life of Egypt and I have come to participate with the Egyptian people.

"I advise the government to listen to the people and not to use violence. There's no going back. I hope the regime stops violence, stops detaining people, stops torturing people. This will be completely counterproductive.

"We're still reaching out to the regime to work with them through the process of change. Every Egyptian does not want to see the country going into violence.

"The right to peaceful demonstration is the right of every Egyptian. I wish we didn't have to go onto the streets and press the regime but they need to change. We tried signatures, boycotts, elections ... nothing worked. Every demand fell on deaf ears.

"I'm still hoping to manage the process of change in a peaceful way, in an orderly way. I hope the regime will do the same. There's no going back."