The head of Egypt's largest opposition group, the Muslim Brotherhood, has announced that the group will take part in the talks proposed by vice president Omar Suleiman to hash out a solution for the country's current political impasse.
"We decided to take part in a round of negotiations in order to test the officials' seriousness about people's demands and their readiness to respond, which conforms to our principles on constructive, earnest discourse," the group's Supreme Guide Mohamed Badie, said in a statement on Sunday.
The Brotherhood refused to join the talks earlier, insisting that President Mubarak leave office first. But Badie said on Sunday that the group decided to engage in negotiations because it is anxious that the people's demands are met and wants to respect the "sacrifices made by the young people."
Badie stressed the group remains committed to accepting a comprehensive dialogue that embraces all political groups, including representatives from the protesting youth.
The supreme guide expressed persistence regarding the demands upheld by the demonstrators, most importantly that President Mubarak step down, the prosecution of officials responsible for the bloodshed during the protests, the dissolution of Parliament, the lifting of Emergency Law and the formation of a transitional government.
Badie emphasized the necessity to protect demonstrators and ensure their right to peaceful protest. He did not set a date for his group to join the dialogue, but some Brotherhood officials said a delegation will meet Suleiman on Sunday.
On Saturday, a number of prominent figures and representatives from opposition parties met with Suleiman, and said they submitted a package of demands which the vice president said he will consider. However, he failed to respond to the main call: that Mubarak leave his post.
