20110207
xinhua

CAIRO, Feb. 6 (Xinhua) -- Egyptian Vice President Omar Suleiman Sunday held talks with representatives of political parties including the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood and protesters, a step to establish a national dialogue and ease the unrest in Egypt that entered its 13th day.

The Muslim Brotherhood, the Wafd party, Tagammu, members of a committee chosen by youth groups, as well as independent political and business figures were present at the meeting, state news agency MENA said.

According to state television, the opposition agreed with Suleiman to end the 30 years emergency law, constitutional change, ensure President Mubarak does not run again in September, stop crackdown on media and establish a national committee that follow up developments until new presidential elections which should be free and fair.

The Brotherhood who earlier refused to join talks unless the president leaves office first, said that the group decided to engage in negotiations as they are eager that the people's demands are met and wants to respect the sacrifices made by the young people.

"We decided to take part in a round of negotiations in order to test the officials' seriousness about people's demands and their interests to respond," said the group's supreme guide Mohamed Badie, in a statement on Sunday.

The move to join negotiations after the Brotherhood rejected previous calls came only a day after the top executive board of the ruling National Democratic Party (NDP) resigned including the Egyptian president's son Gamal Mubarak. Hossam Badrawi, a prominent physician and political figure was named as the new secretary general.

Rumors circulated that President Mubarak have also stepped down from his post as NDP chairman, but those rumors proved false by the minister of information, which angered Tahrir Square protesters demanding the president to end his 30 year rule of the country.

Meanwhile normal life began in Cairo streets except central Cairo's Tahrir square which remains packed, after a long standstill week as chaos took place around the capital.

The Egyptian government opened a limited number of banks, long lines formed outside the banks in downtown and other neighborhood. Moreover, traffic went back to normal as more people started to use public transportation.

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