Egypt's opposition says 'too late' for unity talks with Morsi

CAIRO – The spokesman for Egypt's largest opposition grouping is dismissing a call by President Mohammed Morsi for national reconciliation talks.

Morsi, who hails from the Islamist Muslim Brotherhood group, made the call during a fiery speech Monday over plans by Ethiopia to build a dam on the Nile river. He said "all options are open" in dealing with the project that Egyptians fear will leave the country with a dangerous water shortage, and that he is "ready to go to anyone" to unite Egyptians with a common stand.

The opposition sees this as an attempt to whip up nationalist fervor to undercut countrywide protests planned for June 30 to call for Morsi's ouster.

Spokesman of the National Salvation Front Khaled Dawoud said on Tuesday it was "rather too late" for talks.