Allies of deposed Egyptian President Mohammed Mursi told mediators on Saturday they respected the popular will expressed in mass protests that led to his downfall, suggesting they might be backing away from a demand he be reinstated.| Folding like lawn chairs, are they... |
Speaking to Reuters by telephone, Malt said Mursi's allies told the envoys they wanted the constitution restored and said it held "more than one solution" to the crisis. He added that General Abdel Fattah Al Sisi, the army chief who overthrew Mursi, must not be part of a political deal without Mursi.
Asked whether the delegation had told the envoys that Mursi must be reinstated, Malt said that would be worked out in the details, notably not reiterating the demand for his return.
"This is part of the political initiatives," he said. "We did not get into the details of the political initiatives".
| Under the bus you go, Mursi. The Brüderbünd recognizes that he's dispensable so long as they get back into power. |
A member of the Muslim Brotherhood-allied Wasat Party, Malt is the appointed spokesman of the delegation that met with US Deputy Secretary of State William Burns, US Ambassador Anne Patterson and European Union special envoy Bernardino Leon.
The delegation also includes top members of the Brotherhood's Freedom and Justice Party (FJP).
Later, senior Brotherhood politician Essam El-Erian said restoring the 2012 constitution meant Mursi would see out his term. However, diplomats say the Brotherhood understands Mursi, detained at a secret location, will not return as president but they want a face-saving legal formula for him to step down.
"Those empowered to speak for the FJP understand that Mursi is not coming back. But they are maintaining that as a negotiating position," a Western diplomat said.
Another diplomat involved in the talks said pro-Mursi alliance had shown flexibility in Saturday's meeting.
Relaying the messages delivered to the envoys, Malt said: "I respect and hold in regard the demands of the masses that went out on June 30, but I will not build on the military coup."
He added that the demands of the Mursi supporters must also be respected. Mursi supporters still protesting in Cairo want the constitution and Mursi reinstated.
| Reinstate Mursi and it's the same-old all over again. Reinstate the Brüderbünd-written constitution and you'll get another Mursi... |
He added that political solutions must be hammered out with the National Salvation Front - the loose coalition of non-Islamist parties that backed Mursi's overthrow and which includes interim Vice-President Mohamed ElBaradei.
"We (will) sit together and we will assess proposed political initiatives and reach solutions that respect all popular desires. But the army will not have a role in political solutions," he said. "The army must remain neutral and not interfere in political life."
Malt said a period of calm was needed to build confidence among all parties. He said this would include a renunciation of violence, the release of what he called political detainees and allowing Islamist television stations to reopen.
| All to benefit the Brüderbünd... |
They also condemned violence in the Sinai Peninsula, where attacks by militant Islamists have escalated since Mursi's downfall.