Cairo:
Egypt's vice president met a broad representation of major opposition groups for the first time on Sunday to try to end the country's political crisis, even as thousands of Egyptian pro-democracy protesters packed into Cairo's Tahrir Square, calling for the ouster of longtime authoritarian president Hosni Mubarak and his regime.
Two of the groups that attended the meeting said this was only a first step in a dialogue which has yet to meet their central demand - the immediate ouster of Mubarak.
"The dialogue has yet to lead to anything clear, concrete or tangible. The demands remain the same, the rights remain the same," Brotherhood spokesman, Mohammad Mursi, told a news conference on Sunday evening.
"There has been no compliance to the majority (of demands). There has been some response to some issues, issues that focus more on the superficial than substance," he said before adding: "we continue to hold our position."
Issam al-Aryan, the Brotherhood's Head of Political Bureau told the same news conference that he predicted Mubarak would step down before the end of this week in the face of ongoing protests.
Vice President Omar Suleiman had offered to set up a committee of judiciary and political figures to study proposed constitutional reforms that would allow more candidates to run for president and impose term limits on the presidency, the state news agency reported.
The committee was given until the first week of March to finish the tasks.
The decision by the Brotherhood comes as Egypt's leadership sought to defuse the mass demonstrations - now in their 13th day - by proposing reforms but stopping short of the protesters' key demand that Mubarak step down.
Egyptian state television also reported that representatives from a wide range of Egypt's major opposition groups also met on Sunday with Vice President Omar Suleiman to discuss a blueprint for reforms to put the country on a path toward greater democracy.
The opposition groups represented included the youthful supporters of leading democracy advocate Mohamed ElBaradei, who are one of the main forces behind nearly two weeks of mass protests demanding the immediate ouster of Mubarak.
The outlawed Muslim Brotherhood and a number of smaller leftist, liberal groups also attended the meeting, according to footage shown on state television.
This all comes as the government tries to restore a sense of normalcy to the capital on Sunday by reopening a limited number of banks for the first time in a week, although just for three hours.
The talks between the government and the Brotherhood were first known discussions between the two in years, suggesting the group could gain an open political role in a post-Mubarak era along with other opposition political parties.
Suleiman has accused the Brotherhood, businessmen and foreigners he did not identify of being behind a wave of looting and arson that swept much of the country last weekend after security forces inexplicably pulled out from the streets.
Speaking to AP Television on Sunday, Brotherhood Deputy Leader, Rashad Mohammed el-Bayoumy said the group had "very specific demands."
"If they are met or if we feel that there are concrete steps being taken towards meeting those demands, then we will continue the dialogue," he said.
Listing the group's demands, he called for: "the immediate removal of this regime, beginning with Hosni Mubarak. The lifting of the emergency laws (that give the security forces near unlimited powers) that we have been living under for the last 30 years, a complete end to that. Dissolving the parliament, which is in place as a result of blatant rigging (of the last election). And finally the release of all political prisoners."
Meanwhile, thousands of protesters - many of whom had camped out in the square for 13 days - were gathering in the square for another day of demonstrations in what they have termed: "The Week of Endurance."
Negotiations with the opposition reflect the regime's apparent determination to end the crisis by placating protesters with reforms but keeping Mubarak in office until elections can be held as scheduled in September.
Mubarak has promised not to run again but has insisted he will serve out the remainder of his current term to supervise what he called a peaceful transfer of power.
He also vowed to introduce far reaching political reform and to fight corruption.
Leaders of Mubarak's ruling National Democratic Party, including his son Gamal and longtime aides, resigned on Saturday.
Suleiman, a former chief of intelligence and army general, said Gamal, a 46-year-old banker-turned-politician, would not run for president, addressing longtime fears that he was being groomed for the post.
But the concessions so far have failed to satisfy the protesters, who insist that Mubarak immediately leave office.
"We are determined to press on until our number one demand is met," said Khaled Abdul-Hameed, a representative of the protesters.
He said the protesters at Tahrir Square have formed a 10-member "Coalition of the Youths of Egypt's Revolution," including a Brotherhood representative, to relay their positions to politicians and public figures negotiating with the regime.
Suleiman and Prime Minister Ahmed Shafiq have rejected calls for Mubarak's immediate ouster. Some opposition leaders also met with Suleiman on Saturday but said there was no breakthrough.
Two of the groups that attended the meeting said this was only a first step in a dialogue which has yet to meet their central demand - the immediate ouster of Mubarak.
"The dialogue has yet to lead to anything clear, concrete or tangible. The demands remain the same, the rights remain the same," Brotherhood spokesman, Mohammad Mursi, told a news conference on Sunday evening.
"There has been no compliance to the majority (of demands). There has been some response to some issues, issues that focus more on the superficial than substance," he said before adding: "we continue to hold our position."
Issam al-Aryan, the Brotherhood's Head of Political Bureau told the same news conference that he predicted Mubarak would step down before the end of this week in the face of ongoing protests.
Vice President Omar Suleiman had offered to set up a committee of judiciary and political figures to study proposed constitutional reforms that would allow more candidates to run for president and impose term limits on the presidency, the state news agency reported.
The committee was given until the first week of March to finish the tasks.
The decision by the Brotherhood comes as Egypt's leadership sought to defuse the mass demonstrations - now in their 13th day - by proposing reforms but stopping short of the protesters' key demand that Mubarak step down.
Egyptian state television also reported that representatives from a wide range of Egypt's major opposition groups also met on Sunday with Vice President Omar Suleiman to discuss a blueprint for reforms to put the country on a path toward greater democracy.
The opposition groups represented included the youthful supporters of leading democracy advocate Mohamed ElBaradei, who are one of the main forces behind nearly two weeks of mass protests demanding the immediate ouster of Mubarak.
The outlawed Muslim Brotherhood and a number of smaller leftist, liberal groups also attended the meeting, according to footage shown on state television.
This all comes as the government tries to restore a sense of normalcy to the capital on Sunday by reopening a limited number of banks for the first time in a week, although just for three hours.
The talks between the government and the Brotherhood were first known discussions between the two in years, suggesting the group could gain an open political role in a post-Mubarak era along with other opposition political parties.
Suleiman has accused the Brotherhood, businessmen and foreigners he did not identify of being behind a wave of looting and arson that swept much of the country last weekend after security forces inexplicably pulled out from the streets.
Speaking to AP Television on Sunday, Brotherhood Deputy Leader, Rashad Mohammed el-Bayoumy said the group had "very specific demands."
"If they are met or if we feel that there are concrete steps being taken towards meeting those demands, then we will continue the dialogue," he said.
Listing the group's demands, he called for: "the immediate removal of this regime, beginning with Hosni Mubarak. The lifting of the emergency laws (that give the security forces near unlimited powers) that we have been living under for the last 30 years, a complete end to that. Dissolving the parliament, which is in place as a result of blatant rigging (of the last election). And finally the release of all political prisoners."
Meanwhile, thousands of protesters - many of whom had camped out in the square for 13 days - were gathering in the square for another day of demonstrations in what they have termed: "The Week of Endurance."
Negotiations with the opposition reflect the regime's apparent determination to end the crisis by placating protesters with reforms but keeping Mubarak in office until elections can be held as scheduled in September.
Mubarak has promised not to run again but has insisted he will serve out the remainder of his current term to supervise what he called a peaceful transfer of power.
He also vowed to introduce far reaching political reform and to fight corruption.
Leaders of Mubarak's ruling National Democratic Party, including his son Gamal and longtime aides, resigned on Saturday.
Suleiman, a former chief of intelligence and army general, said Gamal, a 46-year-old banker-turned-politician, would not run for president, addressing longtime fears that he was being groomed for the post.
But the concessions so far have failed to satisfy the protesters, who insist that Mubarak immediately leave office.
"We are determined to press on until our number one demand is met," said Khaled Abdul-Hameed, a representative of the protesters.
He said the protesters at Tahrir Square have formed a 10-member "Coalition of the Youths of Egypt's Revolution," including a Brotherhood representative, to relay their positions to politicians and public figures negotiating with the regime.
Suleiman and Prime Minister Ahmed Shafiq have rejected calls for Mubarak's immediate ouster. Some opposition leaders also met with Suleiman on Saturday but said there was no breakthrough.
Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world
