Ahmed Ageeza, founder of Egypt’s Free Islamic Coalition, has told Arabstoday that the Muslim Brotherhood must step up leadership amidst a “bleak” national political scene. “The Muslim Brotherhood can’t run Egypt on its own,” he claimed. “The Brotherhood has to rule as politicians, not as a banned group.” President Mohammed Morsi would have to bring together the Brotherhood, along with liberals, secularist and Salafists to see Egypt through the current crisis, Ageeza said. “There is a need to end polarisation,” he claimed. “The Muslim Brotherhood refuses to allow the participation of liberals in running Egypt, while secularists do not want to see Islamists in power.” Part of the reason for the impasse, Ageeza suggested, was the political survival of regime remnants from the time of Hosni Mubarak’s power. One way out was the participation of young people in government, Ageeza said. “40 young men should gain membership of the Constituent Assembly.” “We’re seeing a growing number of Islamist parties because they were kept out of politics for so long. Other political parties also lack the experience to improve our country’s conditions,” he added. Ageeza proposed his Free Islamic Coalition as a moderate force that could bringing together Muslims and Christians as well as liberals and Islamists.