Will ousted Egypt prez Morsi reconciliate with Islamists?

Cairo: Ousted Egyptian president Mohammad Morsi is expected to meet a number of lawyers and political figures to discuss the progress in reconciliation between the Muslim Brotherhood and the military-backed interim government. A delegation made up of former prime minister Hisham Kandeel, former presidential candidate Mohamed Selim al-Awa and Morsi’s former vice-president Mahmoud Mekki, will meet Morsi in prison. The court has agreed to allow visits, but has not yet determined an exact timing for it, said Mohamed el-Damati, spokesperson of the defence team of Morsi and other Muslim Brotherhood members. Mahmoud el-Khudairy, former chairman of Legal Committee in the dissolved Parliament, said that releasing Morsi and other Brotherhood leaders would be a big step towards achieving reconciliation and political stability. [caption id=“attachment_1217175” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Mohammad Morsi. AFP.[/caption] The Anti-coup Alliance, which has been demanding for the release of 62-year-old Morsi, said that it will not take any decisions on reconciliation without first holding talks with him, media reports said. The former president will meet a number of political figures to discuss the results of the steps towards reconciliation between the Muslim Brotherhood and the current government, the reports said. “There are still chances for reconciliation between the Brotherhood members and the government,” former Minister of Justice Ahmed Mekki said. Meanwhile, lawyers who met Morsi inside the Police Academy during his first trial session tried to convince him that it is important to assign a lawyer for his defence. Morsi earlier said he will not appoint a lawyer to defend him during his trial for inciting the murder of anti-regime protesters. The next hearing in the case has been set for 8 January. Meanwhile, Morsi’s wife and two sons visited him for the first time in prison yesterday. During the hour-long meeting, Morsi received a bag that contained some clothes and foods, fruits, mineral water and soft drinks. The visit came after the Interior Minister allowed all prisoners to meet heir relatives on the occasion of the Hijri New Year. Morsi was ousted by army on July 3 after mass protests against his regime. Egyptian authorities launched a crackdown against the Muslim Brotherhood following his ouster. PTI