国际英语新闻：Egyptian gov't, opposition in talks to end crisis

CAIRO, Feb. 3 (Xinhua) -- Egypt's Vice President Omar Suleiman said the government has started dialogue with the opposition parties and representatives of protesters to end the mass protests that began on Jan. 25.

The Muslim Brotherhood has been invited to meet with the government but they are still hesitant, Suleiman said in an interview with Egyptian state TV on Thursday.

Suleiman said he is meeting the representatives of Egyptian youth and other opposition parties in the coming two days, and that dialogue shouldn't exceed 10 days.

"Egypt faces a critical time following the protests," he said.

Egypt's Prime Minister Ahmed Shafiq addresses the media Thursday Feb. 3, 2011 in this image taken from Egypt State TV.

Suleiman, the former intelligence chief, was appointed as the country's first ever vice president for three decades last week. He said harmony between the Egyptian political parties need much time and dialogue.

The constitutional amendments will be left to public referendum and the amendment of 76 and 77 articles is a first step, said the vice president.

However, the amendments will require 70 days to pass, he added.

"We have a working plan starting with dialogue and choosing committees to study all issues separately and give them time to solve it," he said.

Suleiman said what happened in the Tahrir Square, the center of the mass protests, on Wednesday night, was a conspiracy.

Clashes between protesters and supporters of President Hosni Mubarak left at least six dead and more than 800 injured till Thursday, according to Egyptian Health Ministry.

Some people had their own agendas to exploit the youth revolution for their own interests, Suleiman said, indicating that they may be businessmen, foreign elements or militia infiltrators.

Military forces' task is to protect people with all their constitutional and lawful rights, but now it has a new role to protect citizens and stand against outlaws and looters, Suleiman said in the interview.

Suleiman also said a million tourists have flew out of Egypt in the past nine days. The country reported losses of 1 billion U.S. dollars in tourism.

Neither the president nor his son will run for the presidency, Suleiman added.

Suleiman also called on security authorities to release the detained youths who didn't participate in any violence acts during the clashes, and asserted that he guarantees that all youth demands will be fulfilled soon.

The vice president called protestors to go home and give the government a chance to protect them and regain normal life in Egypt.

Egypt has seen the largest mass protests in 30 years to challenge the rule of President Hosni Mubarak. The protests, still with no sign of a quick end, have left more than 100 dead and several thousand people injured, with a great impact on the normal life of citizens due to the closure of shops and disruption of rail and air services.

Some opposition groups have planned to organize mass protests again on Friday. Analysts say Friday will be a day to test whether the moves taken by the new government are effective or not in ending the unrest.