Former IAEA Director Mohamed El Baradei. Photo: wiki commons.

In a further sign of continuing upheaval in Egyptian politics, three former presidential candidates including ex-IAEA chief Mohamed ElBaradei  have been accused of espionage and conspiring against the state as part of a  “Zionist plot.”

Newly appointed Prosecutor General Talaat Ibrahim Abdallah yesterday referred to the State Security Prosecution a complaint accusing ElBaradei, Hamdein Sabahy and Amr Moussa of spying and inciting the overthrow of President Mohamed Morsi. Others noted in the complaint were Wafd Party head Al-Sayyed Al-Badawi, and Judges Club chair Ahmed El-Zend.

Hamed Sadeq, a lawyer who filed the complaint, identified Moussa in particular as having met with Israel’s former foreign minister Tzipi Livni and agreed to “confuse” Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi – in coordination with the others accused – in the hope of inciting discord.

Tens of thousands of people marched on the presidential palace Tuesday to protest President Morsi’s attempts to consolidate power as well as a controversial draft charter, which has been criticized by many political groups and human rights organisations as being unrepresentative of the Egyptian populace.