Moussa: I was wrong to refuse early presidential elections

Head of the Egyptian opposition Congress Party Amr Moussa said he was wrong to reject calls for early presidential elections. In statements to the Saudi newspaper al-Youm, Moussa - a leading figure in the National Salvation Front - said the deteriorating state conditions and rising popular calls for early presidential elections prodded him into revisiting his stand. Concerning the upcoming parliamentary elections, he said the front has not taken any decision, but the front's parties are pressing for participating in the elections under the condition of having enough guarantees for fair and free elections. As for the front's rejection to hold dialogue with the presidency, he said the rejection was not a random decision. He expounded that there were no guarantees for implementing what to be agreed upon. In addition, the presidency was organizing for the dialogue as a general conference not negotiations. Regarding sedition inside the front, he said there are differences in opinions and proposed policies, but there is agreement that the front will not kowtow. He voiced hope that the front will take part in the elections as one entity, but there should be judicial and international monitoring on the elections, only this will give the opposition a chance to garner most of the parliament seats. Moussa said the Brotherhood popularity has receded, noting that those who voted for President Mohamed Morsi in the elections would not do it again.