MORSY STARTS NATIONAL DIALOGUE AT PRESIDENTIAL PALACE

        Cairo, 17 Rabiul Awwal 1434/ 29 January 2013 (MINA) – President Mohamed Morsy began a national dialogue with various political forces early on Monday evening.

         Morsy issued the invitation to the dialogue during a televised speech on Sunday that addressed the unrest sweeping the nation, according to a report published in www.egyptindependent.com monitored by Mi’raj News Agency (MINA), Tuesday.

        Several political figures and party leaders attended, including Ayman Nour, head of the Ghad al-Thawra party; Abdel Moneim Abouel Fotouh, head of the Strong Egypt Party, Saad al-Katatny, head of the Freedom and Justice Party; and Youness Makhyoun, head of the Salafi Nour Party.

       Other participants included Mohamed Selim al-Awa, Mohamed Anwar al-Sadat, Hatem Azzam and Nasr Abdel Salam.

       Members of the National Salvation Front refused to attend, saying they doubted the seriousness of the conversation.

       The dialogue is intended to address the current political unrest, and also discuss how such dialogues should be conducted.

       Thousands of Egyptians staged demonstrations in Cairo, Alexandria, Suez, Port Said, and many other cities and towns to call on Morsi, who took office in June 2012, to fulfill his election promises.

       The Egyptians launched the revolution against Mubarak on January 25, 2011, which eventually brought an end to Mubarak’s 30-year-long dictatorship on February 11, 2011. (T/P011/E1)

 

Mi’raj News Agency (MINA)