Quick takes - Egypt

Egyptian political instability remains a massive medium-term concern for the MENA region. The Islamist parties have largely rejected calls by the military and interim authority to join reconciliation talks and are continuing to organise anti-military protests. Recent protests on Monday night resulted in violence in downtown Cairo leaving seven people dead. The violence mirrored clashes last Monday in Cairo outside of the Republican Guard HQ in Nasr City which left dozens dead. The polarisation of the Egyptian polity is unlikely to be overcome anytime soon and instability is likely to remain a pressing concern until 2014 at least.