Egypt’s Mursi Calls for Dialogue, Opposition Rejects

Egyptian President Mohammad Mursi called for a national dialogue on Saturday, but held firm on a Dec 15 referendum on constitution.

Egyptian President Mohammad Mursi called for a national dialogue on Saturday, but held firm on a Dec 15 referendum on constitution. Mursi in televised adress

In a televised address late on Thursday, Mursi vowed to push on with the referendum on the constitution, saying he would not tolerate anyone working towards the overthrow of his government.

He invited political groups, judges and the opposition to meet on Saturday for talks over the political crisis gripping the country.
“I call for a full, productive dialogue with all figures and heads of parties, revolutionary youth and senior legal figures to meet this Saturday,” Mursi said.

“We respect peaceful freedom of speech but will never allow anyone to take part in killings and sabotage.”
“Afterwards, there should be no obstacle and everyone must follow its will,” he said referring to the referendum.

OPPOSITION REJECTS DIALOGUE
However, Mursi's offer was rejected by opposition groups. They said they would step up their campaign against the decree and the referendum set for December 15. Protests were expected to swell after traditional Muslim prayers on Friday.

The opposition coalition, the National Salvation Front, issued a statement saying "the fact that the presidency... persists in ignoring the demands and protests of the people has closed the door on any attempt for dialogue".
It said it "renews its call for Egyptians to gather across Egypt on Friday".

The group's spokesman, Hussein Abdel Ghani, said "we will continue to escalate (protests), using peaceful means".
A youth opposition group in the coalition, April 6, called for marches from all of Cairo's mosques to converge on the main squares.

There were fears of more violence after clashes in Egypt on Wednesday between pro- and anti-Mursi protesters that left seven people dead and more than 600 injured.

The army on Thursday cleared the area in front of the presidential palace in the capital of protesters from both sides, and deployed tanks and barbed wire to keep crowds away.