Al-Azhar Grand Imam Ahmed el-Tayyeb has renewed calls for all Egyptians to show unity and avoid schism to serve the interests of Egypt.

In a statement following a meeting with withdrawing members of the Constituent Assembly, el-Tayyeb invited them to continue their consensual meetings under the auspices of al-Azhar.

The meeting took up a draft constitution and the makeup of the panel along with the latest developments in the country, the statement said.

The meeting aimed at reaching unity among all the political powers in Egypt to have a consensual constitution that meets the hopes of all Egyptians.

The withdrawers of the 100-member panel, including church representatives, liberal powers and political parties, took part in the meeting at the al-Azhar headquarters.

The meeting discussed means of mapping out a roadmap for restoring national consensus in the current stage. Al-Azhar has also urged the sons of the homeland to work for maintaining unity.

The Grand Imam decided to continue dialogue in the coming few days with all political powers to put an end to rifts in the Egyptian society.