Egyptian opposition rejects govt reform offer

[azurnoir]

Mahmud Ezzat, the Brotherhood's number two leader, told AFP by telephone that the group had not pulled out of the talks because it felt it had made progress, but warned that street protests would continue.


In his view, by sitting down with the opposition, the regime had tacitly "admitted that this is a popular revolution and its demands are legitimate. And one of our demands is that the president must leave."

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Some of the undaunted protesters celebrated Christian prayers in the central Cairo square, the epicentre and symbol of the revolt, to remember the estimated 300 people who have been killed since demonstrations against Mubarak began.


"God bless the dead. God bless the dead," recited a Christian preacher wearing a crucifix. By his side, a Muslim cleric stood holding a Koran, as the faithful chanted "A single hand. A single hand," in inter-faith solidarity.


Meanwhile, a measure of normal life began to return to the biggest city in the Arab world, with queues forming in front of banks that had been shut for more than a week and workmen scrubbing down shopfronts.

http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=357357

[dipsydoodle]

1. Muslim Brotherhood Join Egypt Talks as Mubarak Allies Make Concessions

Cairo — Members of the Muslim Brotherhood joined other opposition groups meeting with Vice President Omar Suleiman on Sunday in what seemed a significant departure in the nation’s uprising and political history.

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After the meeting had started, The Associated Press said that talks included some of the top issues for the opposition — including freedom of the press and the release of those detained since anti-government protests started — as well as agreement to begin setting up a structure to study amending the country’s constitution.

A spokesman for the Muslim Brotherhood, Gamal Nassar, said the huge and sometimes violent demonstrations that have paralyzed Cairo for 13 days, reverberating around the Middle East, would continue “until the political path can have a role in achieving the aspirations of the protesters” — an apparent reference to their goal of removing Mr. Mubarak.

Mr. Nassar said mediators had brokered the encounter with Mr. Suleiman, who Saturday received public backing from the Obama administration and other Western governments that confirmed him as the West’s choice to guide any transfer of power.

http://www.truth-out.org/muslim-brotherhood-join-egypt-talks-mubarak-allies-make-concessions67501