Opposition rejects Mursi’s call for talks to end political crisis in Egypt
EGYPT’S main opposition coalition will not join a national dialogue called by President Mohamed Mursi because the proposal was not genuine, members said.
Mr Mursi had invited his allies and rivals to talks yesterday to try to resolve a political crisis and end violence on the streets that erupted during anti-government protests. Five days of unrest has led to 50 deaths.
The National Salvation Front– which rejected a similar call for dialogue last year during another spell of unrest – saw the Islamist leader’s call as “cosmetic and not substantive”, said leading coalition member Mohamed ElBaradei.
“We will not go to the dialogue today,” he said. “We will send a message to the Egyptian people and the president of the republic about what we think are the essentials for dialogue. If he agrees to them, we are ready for dialogue.”
The coalition’s conditions included a demand Mr Mursi accept responsibility for the bloodshed and agree to form a government of national salvation, echoing previously unmet demands by the opposition.
“We have accepted dialogue (in the past) and went to the president in his office and spoke to him,” said leftist firebrand politician Hamdeen Sabahy. “We did not refuse dialogue. But the result was he issued an oppressive decree.”
Opposition politicians were enraged late last year when Mr Mursi issued a decree awarding himself extra powers that the president’s allies said were essential to help push Egypt’s transition forward.
Rivals saw it as a blatant power grab and were particularly angered they had not been given any indication of Mr Mursi’s plans for such a sweeping move in their individual talks with him shortly before the decree was issued.
After that decree, Mr Mursi fast-tracked an Islamist-tinged constitution through a referendum, further enraging his opponents, who accused him of reneging on his pledge to be a president for all Egyptians.