CAIRO — A Muslim Brotherhood-led alliance said Saturday it is ready for a national dialogue to end Egypt's political standoff, for the first time not formally demanding the nation's toppled Islamist president return to power.
The country's military-backed government, however, signaled no intention to start talks with supporters of ousted President Mohammed Morsi. Underscoring that, judges also suggested Saturday that the government disband the Brotherhood's political party.
The call by the alliance of Islamist groups is the first formal proposition by Morsi supporters, who have organized near-daily protests demanding his return to office since he was removed in a popularly supported military coup July 3.
Mohammed Bishr, a leading member of the Brotherhood, told reporters the proposition calls for the release of detainees arrested after the ouster of Morsi.
The coalition also asked for the end of security crackdown on Brotherhood members and its allies, as well as the reopening of television channels supporting them.
“We are keen on the country's stability and to get out of the economic crunch,” Bishr said.
The coalition offered a two-week period for them to discuss the proposal.
A military-backed plan for returning Egypt to democracy is already in place and calls for a referendum by the end of the year on changes to the Islamist-drafted constitution. That would be followed by parliamentary and presidential elections by summer.
Deputy Prime Minister Hossam Eissa said Morsi supporters should accept the military-backed plan first as a starting point for talks.