Egypt’s defence council warns of limitations on a peace deal

Egypt's defence council warned yesterday that negotiations for a peaceful resolution to the standoff between the state and the Muslim Brotherhood are not open-ended. The council said a negotiated end will not shield "law breakers" who incite violence from prosecution.

“Negotiations and mediations” must be given time to succeed but this should be “defined and limited and . . . not infringe on the law and the rights of citizens,” the council said.

Nevertheless, demonstrators calling for the reinstatement of ousted president Mohamed Morsi blocked a main thoroughfare in Cairo and the highway linking the capital to the port of Alexandria.

The interior ministry reiterated its call for participants in the Brotherhood's two major sit-ins to leave. "Your peaceful and safe exit will allow for the return of the Brotherhood to its role in the democratic political process."

Political reconciliation
Army chief Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi told US defence secretary Chuck Hagel that the army-backed caretaker government is working for political reconciliation and remains committed to the roadmap providing for a new constitution and parliamentary and presidential elections.

During a five-hour meeting with Gen Sisi, fundamentalist figures demanded an “end to bloodshed”, insisted that force not be used to disperse the sit-ins in Cairo, and called for an end to media campaigns against the pro-Morsi camp, national reconciliation, and the release of detainees.

The gathering included senior leaders of the Brotherhood’s Freedom and Justice Party and other members of the pro-Morsi alliance.

US undersecretary of state William Burns extended his visit to meet Gen Sisi and prime minister Hazem Beblawi while EU envoy Bernadino Leon held talks with caretaker president Adly Mansour.

Mediation efforts
In spite of efforts to mediate an end to the crisis, a Cairo court set August 25th for the trial of six Brotherhood leaders, including supreme guide Mohamed Badie, who is still at large, and his detained deputy Khairat El-Shater, for inciting eight shooting deaths from Brotherhood headquarters on July 1st.

The public prosecutor has also ordered the detention of two key members of Mr Morsi’s staff on charges of instigating deadly clashes at the presidential palace in December 2012.

Amnesty International has reported that Brotherhood opponents have been abducted and tortured by supporters of Mr Morsi.