Egypt Islamists 'in talks' with army

The spokesman for Egypt's Islamist Building and Development Party has claimed that negotiations are currently taking place between the Muslim Brotherhood, groups against President Mohammed Morsi's ouster, and the Egyptian army. Khaled al-Sherif said that all parties have turned to dialogue in the hope of ending the political stalemate. Sharif disclosed that the former aide to Morsi, Emad Abdel Ghafour, is a leading player in the discussions, with the Building and Development Party also playing a key role in bringing the Islamist factions together. The spokesman argued that those who supports Morsi's legitimacy reject the term "secure exit" because such a term could only be applied to dictatorial regimes, such as that of ex-president Hosni Mubarak, and not of democratically elected Morsi. "We would accept an honourable departure for Mohammed Morsi, only after a popular referendum on his legitimacy," he added.