Dr. Ahmed Aref, the Muslim Brotherhood’s media spokesman, said: "Our political differences should not be too much of a hindrance on the path of renaissance and revitalization of our country, especially after a long history of corruption, failure and tyranny.

"It is only natural that, when we start with the basics of development, patriotic common purposes abound. Indeed, if Karl Marx was alive today, he would readily extend his hand to cooperate with the most notorious violators of his principles in order to overcome and resolve crises."

Aref added, in comments on the current visit to Cairo by Mahathir Mohamed, Malaysia's leading renaissance engineer: "Achieving a broad societal consensus, in order to create real renaissance in Egypt, is a national necessity and a historical duty that successive governments will have to do, for the sake of Egyptian citizens."