Islamist coalition calls for dialogue to ease Egypt's crisis

CAIRO (Reuters) - A coalition of Islamists said on Saturday it was ready to seek dialogue to end Egypt's bloody political crisis, on condition that the army-backed government halt a security crackdown.

The public offer was the first of its kind by the group since the violent dispersal of pro-Islamist sit-ins this summer, and it notably did not call for the reinstatement of ousted president Mohamed Mursi of the Muslim Brotherhood.