by Shaimaa Behery
CAIRO, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- Although some analysts see that the current situation in Egypt requires a solution besides the national dialogue, the opposition National Salvation Front's (NSF) refusal to the president's invitation for dialogue was predicted to add to the political perplexity.
Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi announced Sunday to invite 11 parties, including Al-Dostour Party headed by NSF leader Mohamed Elbaradei, the Muslim Brotherhood's Freedom and Justice Party, al- Wafd Party and Strong Egypt Party, to the dialogue held on Monday.
However, the NSF said Monday at a press conference that "we refuse the president's call for dialogue as it ignored the front's main demands that were announced before."
Tarek Senouty, a political analyst and head of Ahram newspaper 's political department, told Xinhua that the opposition bloc's " refusing the dialogues isn't a proper decision, specially in this critical time, while the state is really suffering from dissents, clashes and violence."
"In this time, the dialogue is urgently needed. Everything the front demands can be offered and discussed on the dialogue table, and if they find no response from the presidency, they can tell the public," Senouty added, wondering about how the front knew that the dialogue wouldn't be comprehensive without attending even the first session.
Disagreeing with Senouty's point of view, Noha Bakr, a political science professor with the American University in Cairo, said the NSF's refusal was "justified" because the president did not mention in his last speech that the opposition's demands are " negotiable" or they will be discussed in the dialogue.
"The president's invitation came too late, and I believe that the current situation in Egypt needs different solutions related to putting plans about dealing with the crisis before escalation," Bakr added.
The NSF has stated some conditions for having dialogue with the president, including that the president should confess his responsibility for the bloodshed over the past days. In addition, they demanded forming a national salvation government and a legal committee to reform the constitution that was approved through a referendum in December.
Political analyst with al-Ahram Center for Political and Strategic Studies Ebrahem al-Naggar said he supported the demand of forming a national salvation government, adding that the current cabinet of Prime Minister Hesham Qandil "doesn't meet the Egyptians' aspirations."
However, Naggar rejected the demand of modifying the constitution. "The constitution was already approved in December, and to speak about the modification now is illogic. The opposition can change what they want in the constitution through the parliament," said the political analyst, urging the NSF to focus on the preparation for the parliamentary elections and to forget about their former threat to boycott the elections.
The NSF on Saturday demanded Morsi to amend the controversial, recently-drafted constitution, form "a qualified national salvation government," sack current Prosecutor-General Talaat Abdullah, and subject the Muslim Brotherhood to the law, threatening to urge massive protests on Friday and boycott the upcoming parliamentary elections.
Supporting the NSF, political science professor Eglal Raafat said the opposition bloc's situation "wouldn't detract from their national responsibility."
"The NSF announced some demands before, but the president totally ignored those demands, which got them feel that the presidency doesn't have any intention to concede," Raafat said.
"The president should have at least said in his latest speech that he is ready to contain some of the opposition's demands, but he didn't," added Raafat.
Nevertheless, Naggar and Senouty said that since the dialogue will be held in all cases, the NSF should attend to see the atmosphere of negotiations, put forward their demands, and then judge the response of the presidency.
"Its not a good attitude to let the meeting held without the main opposition bloc. It will seem like a one-sided dialogue, then the presidency will consider the NSF as stubborn opposition that doesn't seek any solution," Senouty said.
The national dialogue started late Monday in the presidency headquarters with the absence of the NSF.
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