The Egyptian presidency has announced that President Mohamed Morsi met with a number of representatives of Islamist powers and parties in Egypt late Saturday to discuss the latest developments in the country.
According to a statement the Egyptian presidency published late Saturday on its Facebook page, Morsi underlined the importance of the peacefulness of protests, adding that there were no compromises in applying the law on everyone equally.
From their part, representatives of Islamist parties reaffirmed their support for Morsi and his legitimacy as president.
Magdy Karkar, general secretary of the new Al-Aml Party, told Al-Ahram Arabic news site that the meeting with Morsi was friendly and aimed to assert the rights to peaceful protest of all currents in society.
"The parties assured their support for the president's legitimacy and the democratic path through elections," said Karkar, adding that the parties hoped that the Shura Council would finish drafting the elections law soon in order to have parliamentary elections.
"The meeting also stressed that it will be unacceptable for Islamist parties and powers to be involved in violence and that all political powers have the right to protest and to hold responsibility of securing the protests," Karkar said, adding that the police too has a role in fighting violence.
"If we want to build a new Egypt, then all Islamist and non-Islamist parties and powers should hold a dialogue," Karkar stated.
The two-hour meeting with Islamist parties and powers was attended by Essam El-Haddad, the president's aide for foreign affairs, Emad Abdel Ghafur, the president's aide for social communications, Pakinam El-Sharkawi, the president's aide for political affairs, and Ambassador Rafaa El-Tahatawy, the presidency's chief of staff.
Participating Islamist parties included the Freedom and Justice Party, El-Nour Party, the Building and Development Party, Al-Wasat Party, Al-Raya Party and Al-Watan Party.
Most Islamist parties have announced their participation in 30 June counter-protests in solidarity with President Morsi and against calls for early presidential elections.
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