Morsy opponents camp at presidential palace ahead of dialogue talks
Egyptian protesters have begun a protest outside the presidential palace, hours before talks called by President Mohamed Morsy, to defuse a crisis brought on by his decree granting himself sweeping powers, reported state television on Saturday.
The protest was launched by several opposition groups that warned Morsy’s Muslim Brotherhood against attacking the “peaceful” protesters camping near the palace in the eastern Cairo quarter of Heliopolis, added the report.
Supporters and opponents of the president had clashed earlier this week in front of the presidential palace, with the violence leaving at least five people dead and 775 injured, according to government figures.
The mostly secular opposition blamed the Muslim Brotherhood for inciting the violence, the worst since Morsy became Egypt’s first elected Islamist president in June.
Major opposition groups have dismissed Mr. Morsy’s call for dialogue, scheduled for later Saturday, as fake. However, some smaller groups have agreed to speak with the president.
The opposition has repeatedly demanded that Mr. Morsy rescind the decree and suspend the constitutional referendum before any talks can take place.
A vote for Egyptians abroad on the draft charter was postponed from Saturday to Wednesday in what state media said was a sign that the stand-off would be resolved soon.
The crisis was sparked last month when Mr. Morsy signed a constitutional declaration making all his decisions immune to judicial review.
The move triggered mass protests and attacks on offices of the Brotherhood in several parts of the nation.
The crisis deepened last week when Mr. Morsy called for a December 15 referendum on a new constitution drafted by an Islamist-led constituent assembly.
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