Morsi supporters must compromise in Egypt

A former member of the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt has urged the group to back down from protests and compromise with the military-backed interim government. Mokhtar Nouh said to Arab Today that seeing millions of people flock to Egyptian squares to answer Defence Minister and army chief General Abdel-Fattah el-Sisi's call for mass protests was evidence of the public's support for the country's army. "The army has been handed the mandate to confront extremists in Sinai. The Egyptian people support the army 100%, and Inshallah (God willing), the operation will end with victory for the people of Egypt. "The Muslim Brotherhood must think about the national interest, and make immediate compromises, because it has no other option," he added. Nouh outlined a five-part plan for social and political progress in Egypt, and urged the Muslim Brotherhood to play its part. "The biggest concern right now is the spread of armed jihadist movements in the Sinai region. The army must resume its crackdown and stop these groups from advancing into the central areas, during a tough time for security forces. The army has been successful in the past. I remember after June 30, they dismantled about 50 jihadist cells and captured dozens of jihadists," he said. Secondly, the former Islamist called on security forces to disperse supporters of ousted president Mohammed Morsi, who have gathered in Cairo's Rabaa al-Adaweya and al-Nahda squares. "The ordinary citizen must go on with his daily business in Cairo, and those living in the around the squares have already complained about the inconvenience." Thirdly, Nouh said that authorities must put Morsi and other Brotherhood leaders accused of spying for foreign bodies on trial. "They are also facing charges of incitement, which is a common charge. They must be taken to court and answer for their crimes, just like former president Hosni Mubarak had to," he explained.? Fourthly, the Egyptian lawyer refused to rule out the possibility of Muslim Brotherhood turning to the negotiating table, adding that this must be one of the key aims of the interim government. "The mass protests in favour of the army have left the Brotherhood in a vulnerable position. After a while, the Islamist group will realise that it has nowhere to go, and then it will have to turn to the ?political process again. Only this time with supervision from the military and accountability to Egyptians on the street."? Finally, Nouh urged the interim government to outlaw the formation of political parties based on religion. "There is no place for religion in politics. This is the reason why so many Egyptians took to the streets against the Islamist regime on June 30. Using religion as a political tool to justify decisions is unacceptable. We have also seen religious clerics interfering in political affairs, and this needs to be stopped."