Egypt's President Offers Nothing to Defuse Crisis

After a night of deadly violence between crowds of his supporters and opponents, Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi is inviting the opposition to what he calls a "comprehensive" dialogue starting Saturday at his presidential palace.
 
But he's offering no sign that he might make any meaningful concessions. He is refusing to rescind a draft constitution that was quickly approved by his allies, or the decrees that granted him nearly absolute powers.
 
Morsi's speech came a night after thousands of his supporters and foes fought in the streets near his palace, leaving at least six dead and nearly 700 injured.
 
He angrily accused some of the opposition protesters of serving remnants of the authoritarian regime of former president Hosni Mubarak.
 
As Morsi spoke, thousands of opposition protesters were still gathered near the palace -- and some raised their shoes in contempt.

(Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

Tweet