Leading opposition activist Ahmed Bahaa El-Din Shaaban on Tuesday rejected fresh calls by President Mohamed Morsi for "national reconciliation," voicing hope that Egypt's broad political opposition would adopt a "collective stance" against the president's appeal. Shaaban is head of the Egyptian Socialist Party and a leading member of the National Salvation Front (NSF), Egypt's main opposition umbrella group. Morsi extended the invitation at a Monday conference organised by Islamist parties and groups devoted to the ongoing row with Ethiopia over the latter's Grand Renaissance Dam project. "This invitation comes too late," said Shaaban. "It was made in an effort to contain public anger against the president in the run-up to mass anti-government protests planned for the end of the month." Morsi's call for reconciliation comes less than three weeks before mass demonstrations planned for 30 June to demand Morsi's ouster and snap presidential elections.
