20110205
reuters

CAIRO (Reuters) - Opposition groups demanding the overthrow of Egypt's President Hosni Mubarak have yet to agree on a common position ahead of negotiations with Vice President Omar Suleiman to pull Egypt out of its worst crisis in 30 years, opposition figures said on Saturday.

Suleiman was scheduled to meet prominent independent opposition figures on Saturday to go through the options, which centre on how to ensure free and fair presidential elections while sticking to the constitution.

The proposal being promoted by a group of Egyptians calling itself the "The Council of Wise Men" involves Suleiman assuming presidential powers for an interim period pending elections.

But some opposition figures argue that would mean the next presidential election would be held under the same unfair conditions as in previous years. They want to first form a new parliament to change the constitution to pave the way for a presidential vote that is democratic.

A popular uprising has gripped Egypt since January 25 with protesters camping out in central Cairo demanding the departure of Mubarak, even after the president on Tuesday announced he would not seek re-election in September.

Egypt faces the danger of a power vacuum unless some sort of agreement on a transitional government is reached.

THE COUNCIL OF WISE MEN

The "Wise Men" proposal is based on article 139 of the constitution that would allow Mubarak to hand his powers to his deputy while staying on as figurehead.