Muslim Brotherhood's Saad al-Katatni, opposition figures pledged to distinguish between a "political act and sabotage". (Photo: bbc.co.uk)

Egypt's political rivals met Thursday and signed an agreement denouncing violence and setting up mechanisms for a national dialogue to get the country out of the ongoing crisis. The meeting, sponsored by Egypt's top Islamic institution al- Azhar, was attended by leaders of the Egyptian rival factions, including the main opposition bloc, the National Salvation Front (NSF). Liberal politician and former diplomat Mohamed ElBaradei, and former Arab League chief Amr Moussa, along with leaders of Islamist parties such as the Muslim Brotherhood's Freedom and Justice Party, Salafist al-Nour Party, and moderate al-Wasat Party. Observers said a dialogue based on guarantees rather than conditions is the only way to solve Egypt's problems in the democratic transition.