A media advisor to Egypt's interim president Adly Mansour met on Monday with a group of 30 young people to discuss the country's political developments, presidential advisor Ahmed El-Meslemany said.

The Egyptian government has been trying to reach out to young people because of expressions of frustration with a crackdown on dissent by interim authorities.

El-Meslemany denied reports that several political parties and movements declined invitations to the meeting, state news agency MENA reported, saying only a few of those invited did not attend.

It was unknown which parties were invited, which were not, and which declined invitations.

Several political movements including the April 6 Youth movement and the Free Egyptian Party have questioned both the efficacy of the dialogue and the criteria of the selection of the invitees, saying that talks exclude key revolution activists.

MENA quoted El-Meslemany as saying that the talks have tackled the country's transitional roadmap, set forth following the ouster of former president Mohamed Morsi after protests last July.

Masnour has held several national dialogue sessions with political groups on the country's political transition since Morsi's exit.

Egypt will hold a presidential election by mid-April, which would be followed by parliamentary polls later this year.

Military chief Field Marshal Abdel Fattah El-Sisi is widely expected to run for president and secure a landslide victory, but has yet to officially announce his candidacy.

Authorities have launched a fierce crackdown on Morsi's supporters, arresting thousands of Islamists. Hundreds others were killed in the ensuing violence.

Several prominent non-Islamist activists are being prosecuted over charges including organising illegal protests, raising anxiety of an expanding crackdown on opposition.