The Muslim Brotherhood said it cannot refuse any serious dialogue with the regime which seeks to serve the higher interests of Egypt and reach a way out of the current crisis, provided that there is no intimidation toward the group.
Supreme Guide for the Muslim Brotherhood Mohamed Badie said he is ready for dialogue with Vice President Omar Suleiman, but only after the departure of President Hosni Mubarak.
In a statement issued on Friday, the Brotherhood said however that there are signs that the regime is not ready for serious dialogue since it has arrested some activists and large numbers of Brotherhood members.
The statement added that the Brotherhood do not have a secret agenda nor are their eyes set on the presidency, but they instead adopt a gradual approach for peaceful popular reform. The statement went on to say that the Brotherhood condemns the fact that the regime is refusing to listen to the millions who have poured onto the streets over the past few days and proved that the regime’s legitimacy has eroded, causing it to totally collapse due to social injustice and electoral fraud.
The Brotherhood agrees with popular demands for a civilian democratic state with an Islamic reference, the statement added. The Brotherhood call for a parliamentary system, and a system that allows for the free establishment of parties. They also emphasized the need for the independence of the judiciary and the exclusion of the military from political life.
The Brotherhood said they were in agreement with protesters who say the parliament should be dissolved and the president must relinquish his position.
Meanwhile, a number of Brotherhood members in Tahrir Square said the Brotherhood has not agreed to engage in dialogue with the regime, adding that even if a statement has really been issued towards that end, they reject it and will not leave the square until Mubarak leaves office.
