Africa

Africa

Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi calls for dialogue

06 December 2012 23:23 (UTC +04:00)

Baku-APA. Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi has called for a meeting with the opposition on Saturday to defuse a political crisis, APA reports quoting BBC.

Clashes between opponents and supporters of Mr Morsi left five people dead and 644 injured overnight.

Mr Morsi said he supported the right to protest but alleged that some people had been paid to foment violence.

Meanwhile, there are reports of an attack on the Cairo headquarters of Mr Morsi's Muslim Brotherhood movement.

Spokesmen for the Muslim Brotherhood said that the building had been set on fire.

'Violent acts'

In a televised speech, Mr Morsi expressed sorrow over the deaths in recent days.

He said that 80 people had been detained as they had been "implicated in violent acts".

He said that a controversial article in a recent decree which gave him sweeping powers could be modified after discussions with opposition forces.

The decree stripped the judiciary of any power to challenge his decisions.

The decree would be cancelled after a referendum on a new constitution planned for 15 December, whatever the result, Mr Morsi added.

Mr Morsi confirmed that the referendum would go ahead as planned, saying that if the constitution was voted down, another constituent assembly would be formed to write a new draft.

Constitution row

Earlier on Thursday, the army had set up barricades outside the presidential palace, after ordering protesters to leave the area.

Most anti-Morsi protesters had left the area around palace by the 15:00 (13:00 GMT) deadline, though some opposition activists remained and their numbers increased as evening fell.

Mr Morsi, who narrowly won Egypt's first free presidential election in June, says he will give up his new powers once a new constitution is ratified.

But there is also controversy over the proposed constitution.

Critics say the draft, drawn up by a body dominated by Morsi-supporting Islamists, was rushed through parliament without proper consultation and does not do enough to protect political and religious freedoms and the rights of women.

Four of Mr Morsi's advisers resigned on Wednesday - three others did so last week and the official Mena news agency reported a further resignation on Thursday.

The opposition said before Mr Morsi's speech that it will continue to hold demonstrations.

"We had many injuries last night, and we are not going to have their blood wasted," said an unnamed member of the National Salvation Front, a recently formed group which has united some of the most prominent anti-Morsi figures.