Muslim Brotherhood to Begin Talks with Egyptian VP

5 February 2011 VOA News Egypt's largest opposition party, the Muslim Brotherhood, says it will begin talks with with Egypt's Vice President Omar Suleiman on the public's right to protest safely and the possible exit of President Hosni Mubarak, who has held office for 30 years.

Suleiman has met with other opposition supporters, but this would be the first time the Muslim Brotherhood has taken part.

Anti-government protesters have filled Cairo's Tahrir Square for more than 12 days, calling for the president to step down. Mr. Mubarak has refused, but says he will not seek re-election in September.

Saturday, a top leadership body of Egypt's ruling party resigned.

Egyptian state television reported the policy-making committee of the National Democratic Party stepped down, including the president's son, Gamal Mubarak.  But the report said Mr. Mubarak remains the party's head.

Key Players in Egypt's Crisis President Hosni Mubarak: The 82-year-old has ruled Egypt for 30 years as leader of the National Democratic Party. Egypt's longest-serving president came to power after the assassination of his predecessor, Anwar Sadat. Mohamed ElBaradei: The Nobel Peace laureate and former Egyptian diplomat has gained international attention as a vocal critic of Mr. Mubarak and his government. Until recently he headed the U.N.'s International Atomic Energy Agency, and he has lived outside Egypt for years. ElBaradei founded the nonpartisan movement National Association for Change, and has offered to lead a transitional administration in Egypt if Mr. Mubarak steps down. Vice President Omar Suleiman: The new Egyptian vice president has served as head of intelligence and is a close ally of President Mubarak. He earned international respect for his role as a mediator in Middle East affairs and for curbing Islamic extremism. Ayman Nour: The political dissident founded the Al Ghad or "tomorrow" party. Nour ran against Mr. Mubarak in the 2005 election and was later jailed on corruption charges. The government released him in 2009 under pressure from the United States and other members of the international community. Muslim Brotherhood: The Islamic fundamentalist organization is outlawed in Egypt, but remains the largest opposition group. Its members previously held 20 percent of the seats in parliament, but lost them after a disputed election in late 2010. The group leads a peaceful political and social movement aimed at forming an Islamic state.

The report said the party's secretary general, Safwat el-Sharif, resigned and has been replaced.   Western news reports say the policy-making committee was comprised of six members who had long been part of Egypt's political establishment.  

Meanwhile, demonstrators braved rainy weather Saturday in Tahrir Square, despite the urging of a senior army official who entered the square with a loudspeaker and made an unsuccessful attempt to get protesters to go home.  The protesters also resisted the military's attempts to remove their barricades.

Opposition protesters had declared Friday the "day of departure" for Mr. Mubarak.  Tens of thousands of demonstrators rallied in Cairo and other cities where they called for his immediate resignation.  In a Thursday interview with ABC,  Mr. Mubarak said he would like to leave office now but fears the move would cause Egypt to sink deeper into chaos.   

The United Nations estimates more than 300 people have died and thousands have been wounded in Egypt since the unrest erupted in late January.