Islamist presidential hopeful Mohamed Selim al-Awa on Wednesday urged Egyptians not to participate in demonstrations to maintain stability before and during the parliamentary elections scheduled to start 28 November.
Awa will not attend the Friday protests some political groups have been inviting him to, he told the state-run news agency MENA.
Several political groups have called for massive protests this Friday to set 5 May 2012 as a deadline for holding presidential elections.
Awa also urged the ruling Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF) to issue a clear timetable for presidential elections, arguing that such a schedule will help ease the transfer of power to an elected civilian government and spare the country from dire political and economic consequences.
Awa said he enjoys good relations with all political groups in Egypt, denying any specific affiliation with Salafis or the Muslim Brotherhood.
His statement emphasized his long-standing rejection of frequent mass protests, which political groups usually hold on Fridays, believing that they endanger stability and prevent people from going about their daily lives.
Awa did take part in the widescale demonstrations on 25 January that eventually forced former President Hosni Mubarak to step down 18 days later.
Observers believe the protests championed by revolutionary groups since the fall of Mubarak have managed to force SCAF to make several decisions, including replacing the government of former Prime Minister Ahmed Shafiq in March.
Translated from the Arabic Edition
