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December 7, 2012

Morsi Offers Dialogue But Vows to Hold Referendum 
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Protests are continuing in Egypt following a speech by Egyptian
President Mohamed Morsi aimed at quelling widespread anger over his
assertion of wide-ranging powers and his ongoing push for a referendum
on a new constitution. In a national address Thursday night, Morsi
offered to sit down with the opposition following violent clashes that
left seven people dead and hundreds wounded.

Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi: "I call for a full, productive
dialogue with all figures and heads of parties, revolutionary youth and
senior legal figures to meet this Saturday, December 8, 2012, at 12:30
at the presidential palace in order to reach an agreement that unites
the nation, with which we can all exit the constraints of division and
conflict and enter into the ease of agreement, if not full consensus."

Despite offering to engage in dialogue, Morsi refused to cancel his
plans for a referendum, saying Egyptian voters will decide the
constitution's fate. Critics have opposed the referendum and say the
proposed constitution was drafted without a proper representation of
Egyptian society. In response, protesters flooded Cairo's Tahrir Square
to call for Morsi's departure. Morsi's speech came hours after opponents
attacked the offices of Morsi's Muslim Brotherhood party and set its
headquarters on fire.

 

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