The chaos and strife in Egypt is alarming. Six people have lost their lives and more than 500 have been wounded in recent battles between the opposition and President Mohamed Morsi's supporters. The Egyptian president is facing his first major crisis since he was duly elected less than half a year ago. The trouble began when last month he issued a decree which gave him almost dictatorial powers. The resignation of six presidential advisers in protest at the way the government is handling the current popular unrest indicates the difficulty that Morsi will have in facing this challenge. Morsi's call for calm and peaceful dialogue and a referendum vote on the adoption of a constitution has been met with pandemonium in Egypt's street. The opposition frontrunners have so far vetoed discussions until the decree is nullified and the referendum is cancelled. This does not augur well for the future of the country as efforts by the government to contain the situation appear to be unsuccessful. It is vital that dialogue be instituted between leaders of the government and the opposition. Violence will never resolve political differences. Democracy in Egypt is in an embryonic stage and everyone must realize that while the government is answerable to the people, it is also essential to maintain a stable political atmosphere. The power struggle between the executive and the judiciary has worsened and this foreshadows more trouble ahead. Protest demonstrations at present have spread from Cairo to Ismailia and Suez. It is crucial that both sides enter into diplomatic dialogue to protect the objectives of the Egyptian revolution.
