Egypt Presidency Calls for Dialogue, Opposition Urges Protesters to Stay on Streets

The office of President Mohamed Morsi said Sunday dialogue is the only way out of Egypt's political crisis, while the opposition urged protesters to stay on the streets as hundreds of thousands rallied to demand the Islamist leader's ouster.

"Dialogue is the only way through which we can reach an understanding... The presidency is open to a real and serious national dialogue," presidential spokesman Ehab Fahmy told reporters.

He urged protesters to maintain "the peaceful nature" of their protest, pointing to the anti-Morsi rallies as proof of freedom of expression in Egypt.

Meanwhile, the National Salvation Front, the main opposition coalition, urged the hundreds of thousands of protesters to stay on the streets until their goals are achieved.

In a statement entitled "Revolution Statement 1", they urged "all the revolutionary forces and all citizens to maintain their peaceful (rallies) in all the squares and streets and villages and hamlets of the country... until the last of this dictatorial regime falls."

The president's supporters have vowed to defend his legitimacy to the end.