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Egypt: Mohammed Morsi’s Face-Saving Deal in The Works

According to reports coming out of Egypt, deposed President Mohammed Morsi is in talks with the military rulers to resign via a televised address, and hand powers to the military-selected interim prime minister.

According to the Independent.co.uk:

Allies of Mohammed Morsi are secretly discussing a face-saving deal in which the toppled president could be released from detention and allowed to officially “resign” his position, according to a source close to crisis talks currently taking place between opposing sides in Cairo.

“Options being considered include allowing Mr. Morsi – who has not been seen in public since being detained by the military a month ago – to announce his resignation in a televised address and formerly hand his executive powers to interim Prime Minister Hazem al-Beblawi.

“Another possibility is that Mr. Morsi could be released and flown into exile, according to the source. ‘We’re hoping to find a dignified exit for him,’ he added.

“The news comes as Egypt’s most senior security body warned that negotiations to solve the current crisis were not open-ended. The National Defense Council, a group which includes interim President Adly Mansour and army Chief General Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, also said that a political settlement would not protect “law-breakers” from retribution – a thinly veiled threat to Islamists who have been accused by their opponents of inciting violence.”

U.S. senators involved in Morsi negotiations

Independent.co.uk reports:

“U.S. Sens. John McCain and Lindsey Graham have joined top diplomats in Cairo to help find a peaceful solution to Egypt’s political stalemate.

“The Pentagon said Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel had called Chief General Abdul Fattah al-Sisi to discuss mediation progress by U.S. and E.U. envoys.

“U.S. Deputy Secretary of State William Burns also visited Muslim Brotherhood deputy head Khairat al-Shater in jail.

“Egypt has been in crisis since the army ousted leader Morsi on July 3.

“Mr. Morsi, a Brotherhood member, has been formally remanded in custody at an undisclosed location, according to a judicial order.

“Thousands are taking part in protests in Cairo, demanding that the deposed president be reinstated.

“There has been mounting tension over plans to break up the two mass sit-ins by Morsi loyalists outside the Rabaa al-Adawiya mosque in the suburb of Nasr City, and in Nahda Square, near the campus of Cairo University in Giza.”

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