(VOVworld) – Salafist Nour, the second largest Islamist party in Egypt, has agreed to join the constitutional review committee, sparking hope for political progress in Egypt. 

The party’s announcement was surprising since it had repeatedly threatened to withdraw from the transition process after certain articles supporting Sharia law were earmarked for cancellation. The Muslim Brotherhood, the largest Islamic force in Egypt, has been vehemently protesting the interim government and army by staging Egypt’s largest-ever mass demonstrations. The Salafist Nour party said it decided to join the constitutional review committee with the aim of defending articles that support Islamic identity.

Analysts hope this move will stabilize the transition process initiated by the army after it ousted President Mohamed Morsi on July 3^rd. Egypt will revise its 2012 constitution and hold parliamentary and presidential elections during this transition.

The wave of protests by the Muslim Brotherhood has cooled off as rallies are smaller and reports of clashes with security forces or local residents are fewer.

Ahmed El Meslemani, Communication Advisor to the interim President, says Egypt has foiled an attempt to overthrow the state and is dealing with extremists in the Muslim Brotherhood and its Islamist allies. Ahmed added revealed that the government is negotiating with political parties like Salafist Nour and said the transition is on the right track. The government has already decided to shorten the nighttime curfew.

Analysts fear, however, that after the arrest of several members of the Muslim Brotherhood, the Brotherhood will link with foreign Islamic extremists in an attempt to regain power. A court ruling to release former President Hosni Mubarak from prison will also no doubt complicate the situation. The interim government is facing sanction threats from western countries. The EU, Egypt’s biggest trading partner, has said it will stop selling security equipment and weapons to Egypt and Washington has said it will reconsider all military aid to Cairo. In an interview with ABC News, interim Prime Minister Hazem El Beblawi said Egypt will face continuous problems in the coming weeks, perhaps months.