Salafists refuse to attend new Pope inauguration

Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi Cairo – Akram Ali Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi didn’t confirm his attendance to the inauguration ceremony of Bishop Tawadrose II on November 18, sources said. Spokesman Yasser Ali said Morsi will attend the ceremony if he was invited. Salafist party said in an official statement that they’ve excused themselves from attending the ceremony because they received the invitation too late.
The statement also said "after discussions with leaders in the Salafist party, we decided that the inauguration is considered a religious issue related to its Christian believers only, which is not accepted and believed by Muslims.”
Political experts said "the attendance of president Morsi to the ceremony will make the Salafist front angry.”
The political professor Amar Ali Hassan said that "President Morsi left the door open, by not confirming his attendance, after strong opposition from Salafists.”
While the official spokesman of liberal Egyptian party “Al Masryin Al Ahrar” Ahmed Khayri said it would be wise for Morsi to attend the ceremony to show a more united attitude towards all Egyptians regardless of their religions.