ElBaradei says optimistic after Egypt crisis meeting

Egyptian liberal politician Mohamed ElBaradei said he was optimistic after a meeting called by the country's top Islamic scholar to try to end a political crisis and street protests in which more than 50 people have been killed.   

"We come out of this meeting with a type of optimism," ElBaradei told journalists after the meeting called by Sheikh Ahmed al-Tayyeb, the head of Al-Azhar mosque and university. "Each of us will do what we can, with goodwill, to build trust once again among the factions of the Egyptian nation."   

Attendees, including the Muslim Brotherhood, signed a document renouncing violence at the meeting. They also agreed to set up a committee grouping rival parties to pave the way for more dialogue, attendees said after the meeting.

A leading Egyptian Islamic scholar brought together rival politicians earlier on Thursday in a bid to ease a crisis that has triggered street violence, killing more than 50 people, saying dialogue was the only way to resolve differences.   

Sheikh Ahmed al-Tayyeb, the head of al-Azhar mosque and university, brought together members of the Muslim Brotherhood - the Islamist group that propelled President Mohamed Mursi to power - with the president's most vocal opponents, including liberal politician Mohamed ElBaradei.   

Reading from a document, Sheikh al-Tayyeb said national dialogue "in which all elements of Egyptian society participate, without any exclusion, is the only tool to resolve any problems or differences". He said violence and bloodshed was forbidden.