President Mohamed Morsy met Saturday with over 40 leading political and legal figures to discuss solutions to the current political crisis. On Thursday, Morsy invited all political groups, including opposition and legal experts, to meet for dialogue and reach a national resolution on the escalating constitutional crisis. Almost all hard line political groups and parties including Al-Dostour Party, the Public Coalition, Strong Egypt Party and 6 April have rejected Morsy's invitation. On Wednesday, tens of thousands of pro-Morsy demonstrators rallied in front of the presidential palace. They clashed with opponents of Morsy's constitutional decree, who have been protesting since Tuesday. Skirmishes have left six dead and more than 700 injured. Al-Azhar Sheikh Ahmed Al-Tayyeb, Vice President Mahmoud Mekki and presidential adviser Pakinam Al-Sharkawy attended the meeting. Legal experts Ahmed Kamal Abu Magd and Mahmoud Al-Khodairy were also present. Al-Wasat Party members Essam Sultan and Abul Ela Mady, head of Ghad Al-Thawra party Ayman Nour, and head of Construction and Reform Party Ramy Lakah were among the attending political figures. Islamist thinkers Selim Al-Awa, Fahmy Howeidy amd Amr Khaled were there as well. However, Islamic preacher Safwat Hegazy left the meeting.
