Egypt's main opposition coalition has said it will boycott upcoming parliamentary elections, a decision likely to deepen the nation's political crisis and worsen an already troubled economy.
The announcement by the liberal, secular National Salvation Front (NSF) was made in a televised news conference on Tuesday, just hours ahead of the start of a "national dialogue" called for by President Mohammed Morsi to produce recommendations to ensure the "transparency" and "integrity" of the vote.
Leading NSF member Sameh Ashour, who also heads Egypt's lawyers' union, announced the decision and said the NSF was also boycotting Tuesday's dialogue.
"We tell Morsi, dialogue with yourself. Dialogue with your party," he said. "The Egyptian people will not accept a dialogue that is imposed."
"God willing, the elections will reflect the spirit of Egyptians," Morsi said in opening remarks at the start of the dialogue, held at the presidential palace in a Cairo suburb. Most of those in attendance were Islamist politicians, with representatives of pro-democracy youth groups and rights activists staying away.
One of the NSF's most prominent leaders, Nobel peace laureate Mohamed ElBaradei, had already called for a boycott on Saturday, but Tuesday's decision reflected the view of all of the group's political parties.
The US reacted swiftly to the boycott decision, calling on the front to reverse its position.
State department spokesman Edgar Vasquez said the US was encouraging all Egyptian parties and potential candidates to compete, saying the election offered Egyptians an opportunity to have their voices heard.
It was "critical" for Egyptian parties to take part so that Egyptians could select representatives from a broad range of political positions, said Vasquez.
Called by Morsi last weekend, the elections will start in April and be staggered over a two-month period.
