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| Egypt opposition rejects Mohammed Morsi dialogue call | Egypt opposition rejects Mohammed Morsi dialogue call |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Egypt's main opposition alliance has rejected the president's call for national dialogue as empty of content. | Egypt's main opposition alliance has rejected the president's call for national dialogue as empty of content. |
| Mohammed Morsi had urged opposition leaders to attend a meeting following four days of deadly violence. | Mohammed Morsi had urged opposition leaders to attend a meeting following four days of deadly violence. |
| Dozens have died since Saturday, when a court sentenced 21 people to death over football riots in Port Said last year. | Dozens have died since Saturday, when a court sentenced 21 people to death over football riots in Port Said last year. |
| A state of emergency has been declared in Port Said, Suez and Ismailia, but protesters defied a night-time curfew imposed by the authorities. | |
| Thousands of protesters were reported to be on the streets of the three cities, where much of the recent violence has occurred. In Suez, people marched towards the headquarters of the provincial government. | Thousands of protesters were reported to be on the streets of the three cities, where much of the recent violence has occurred. In Suez, people marched towards the headquarters of the provincial government. |
| No curfew has been imposed in the capital Cairo, despite violence there continuing on Monday with one man killed by gunfire near Tahrir Square. State TV also said 27 people had been arrested near the US embassy. | No curfew has been imposed in the capital Cairo, despite violence there continuing on Monday with one man killed by gunfire near Tahrir Square. State TV also said 27 people had been arrested near the US embassy. |
| Earlier the state news agency, Mena, reported another six deaths in Port Said, where funerals were held earlier for three people killed in Sunday's violence. | Earlier the state news agency, Mena, reported another six deaths in Port Said, where funerals were held earlier for three people killed in Sunday's violence. |
| Some 590 people had been injured on Monday, most of them in Port Said, it added. | Some 590 people had been injured on Monday, most of them in Port Said, it added. |
| Also on Monday, the cabinet approved a draft law allowing the army to participate in policing and have the power of arrest. The bill was later passed by the Shura Council, the upper house of parliament. | Also on Monday, the cabinet approved a draft law allowing the army to participate in policing and have the power of arrest. The bill was later passed by the Shura Council, the upper house of parliament. |
| The text of the bill says the army will "support the police in maintaining order and protecting vital installations until the end of parliamentary elections and whenever the National Defence Council [headed by Mr Morsi] requests it". | The text of the bill says the army will "support the police in maintaining order and protecting vital installations until the end of parliamentary elections and whenever the National Defence Council [headed by Mr Morsi] requests it". |
| Meanwhile, the human rights group Amnesty International condemned the use of violence by Egyptian security forces dealing with protests over the weekend, citing "disturbing eyewitness accounts of excessive force... including instances of lethal force". | Meanwhile, the human rights group Amnesty International condemned the use of violence by Egyptian security forces dealing with protests over the weekend, citing "disturbing eyewitness accounts of excessive force... including instances of lethal force". |
| 'Form, not content' | 'Form, not content' |
| Mr Morsi's call for dialogue appeared to fall on deaf ears. | Mr Morsi's call for dialogue appeared to fall on deaf ears. |
| Mohamed ElBaradei, a leading member of the opposition National Salvation Front, told journalists that before it would attend any national dialogue, the president would have to appoint a national unity government and take steps to amend the disputed constitution. | Mohamed ElBaradei, a leading member of the opposition National Salvation Front, told journalists that before it would attend any national dialogue, the president would have to appoint a national unity government and take steps to amend the disputed constitution. |
| "The dialogue to which the president invited us is to do with form and not content," Mr ElBaradei said. | "The dialogue to which the president invited us is to do with form and not content," Mr ElBaradei said. |
| "We support any dialogue if it has a clear agenda that can shepherd the nation to the shores of safety." | "We support any dialogue if it has a clear agenda that can shepherd the nation to the shores of safety." |
| Former presidential candidate Hamdeen Sabahi, speaking at the same news conference, said: "We aspire to a dialogue, but there are no guarantees that this dialogue will be a success... while blood is being spilled." | Former presidential candidate Hamdeen Sabahi, speaking at the same news conference, said: "We aspire to a dialogue, but there are no guarantees that this dialogue will be a success... while blood is being spilled." |
| The BBC's Yolande Knell, in Cairo, says the president had been hoping that dialogue could restore national unity amid growing concern about the scale of the latest unrest. | The BBC's Yolande Knell, in Cairo, says the president had been hoping that dialogue could restore national unity amid growing concern about the scale of the latest unrest. |
| He invited representatives from 11 political forces - Islamists, liberals and leftists - to come to the presidential palace for talks on Monday evening, but it is unclear who accepted his invitation, our correspondent adds. | He invited representatives from 11 political forces - Islamists, liberals and leftists - to come to the presidential palace for talks on Monday evening, but it is unclear who accepted his invitation, our correspondent adds. |
| The opposition accuses Mr Morsi of being autocratic and driving through a new constitution that does not protect adequately freedom of expression or religion. | The opposition accuses Mr Morsi of being autocratic and driving through a new constitution that does not protect adequately freedom of expression or religion. |
| The constitution was approved in a national referendum in December. | The constitution was approved in a national referendum in December. |
| Another anti-Morsi rally is scheduled for Cairo for Monday afternoon. | Another anti-Morsi rally is scheduled for Cairo for Monday afternoon. |
| Mr Morsi announced the state of emergency in Port Said, Suez and Ismailia in a national televised address on Sunday evening. | Mr Morsi announced the state of emergency in Port Said, Suez and Ismailia in a national televised address on Sunday evening. |
| He said he might take further steps "for the sake of Egypt", as it was his "duty" as president. | He said he might take further steps "for the sake of Egypt", as it was his "duty" as president. |
| "I have said I am against any emergency measures but I have said that if I must stop bloodshed and protect the people, then I will act," the president added. | "I have said I am against any emergency measures but I have said that if I must stop bloodshed and protect the people, then I will act," the president added. |
| "If I must, I will do much more for the sake of Egypt. This is my duty and I will not hesitate." | "If I must, I will do much more for the sake of Egypt. This is my duty and I will not hesitate." |
| The draft law passed by the cabinet on Monday allowed the army "to participate with the police in preserving security and protecting vital establishments", state news agency Mena said. Those arrested by the army would by tried by a civilian court if charged, it added. | The draft law passed by the cabinet on Monday allowed the army "to participate with the police in preserving security and protecting vital establishments", state news agency Mena said. Those arrested by the army would by tried by a civilian court if charged, it added. |
| Football riots | Football riots |
| Violence continued overnight, with anti-Morsi protesters in Ismailia clashing with police, who responded with tear gas. | Violence continued overnight, with anti-Morsi protesters in Ismailia clashing with police, who responded with tear gas. |
| About 30 people died in unrest in Port Said on Saturday, while another three were killed at a mass funeral on Sunday. | About 30 people died in unrest in Port Said on Saturday, while another three were killed at a mass funeral on Sunday. |
| The protests began in Port Said after a court sentenced 21 local people to death over riots that killed 74 people after a football game last February. | The protests began in Port Said after a court sentenced 21 local people to death over riots that killed 74 people after a football game last February. |
| February's riots began when fans of Port Said side al-Masry attacked visiting supporters from Cairo club al-Ahly. Fans flooded on to the pitch, attacking al-Ahly players and fans as the match ended. Most of the victims died of concussion, cuts and suffocation. | February's riots began when fans of Port Said side al-Masry attacked visiting supporters from Cairo club al-Ahly. Fans flooded on to the pitch, attacking al-Ahly players and fans as the match ended. Most of the victims died of concussion, cuts and suffocation. |
| Early on Monday, protesters and riot police also clashed for a fifth consecutive day in Cairo, where the anger focuses more heavily on the constitution and on what Mr Morsi's opponents say is a betrayal of the revolution that overthrew Hosni Mubarak. | Early on Monday, protesters and riot police also clashed for a fifth consecutive day in Cairo, where the anger focuses more heavily on the constitution and on what Mr Morsi's opponents say is a betrayal of the revolution that overthrew Hosni Mubarak. |
| Protests last week marking the second anniversary of the uprising left five people dead in Suez. | Protests last week marking the second anniversary of the uprising left five people dead in Suez. |
| Are you in Egypt? Are you, or is someone you know, affected by the issues in this story? Send us your experiences using the form below. | Are you in Egypt? Are you, or is someone you know, affected by the issues in this story? Send us your experiences using the form below. |