Mohammed Morsi plea for unity of purpose in Egypt EGYPT's president Mohammed Morsi has appealed to his people to work together to rebuild the country. He told the upper house of parliament, the Shura council, that, after two years of turmoil, it was time for Egypt to turn to "production, work, seriousness and effort." He also warned against any unrest that could harm the drive to repair Egypt's battered economy in his first address before the newly convened upper house, urging the opposition to work with him. In the televised speech, Morsi said all efforts should be focused on rebuilding, now that a new constitution had come into effect last week. He claimed protests and violence last month had further damaged an economy already in crisis falling the toppling of former president Hosni Mubarak. He pressed the opposition to drop its refusals to deal with his government, repeating his invitation for it to join a national dialogue and adding a warning that appeared directed at the opposition not to turn to protests that might cause unrest. All sides must "realise the needs of the moment" and work only through "mature democracy while avoiding violence," he told the 270-member council. We condemn and reject all forms of violence by individuals, groups, institutions and even from the nation and its government. This is completely rejected. Last month, the largely secular and liberal opposition launched a wave of protests against decrees by Morsi which gave him new powers. He subsequently revoked his power-grabbing edicts but forced through the drafting of a constitution which was put to a referendum, despite secular opposition. In response to street protests, Islamists launched mass rallies, and the two sides clashed several times. The worst violence came outside the presidential palace in Cairo where ten people were killed. Both sides blame each other for sparking the violence, with reports claiming the spark came when Islamists attacked a secularist sit-in. Opponents fear Morsi and the Muslim Brotherhood from which he hails are planning to rule without regard to secular rights and that the new constitution will enshrine their authority. It was passed after two polling days on successive Saturdays last week, and allows for a stronger implementation of Islamic law, or Sharia, than in the past and provisions that could limit civil rights. The draft was passed by 64 per cent on turnout of around 33 per cent.