Egypt - politics

Members of Muslim Brotherhood arrested

Article published on the 2010-02-08 Latest update 2010-02-08 16:37 TU

Mohammed Badie, who was chosen as the Brotherhood's leader last month, speaking to the media on 16 January
(Photo: Reuters)

Thirteen members of the opposition Muslim Brotherhood were arrested in Egypt on Monday during pre-dawn raids. Members of the Brotherhood, including its deputy chief Madmud Ezzat, were reportedly apprehended for being part of an “outlawed group”.

The group’s website described the arrests as an “onslaught” with senior members Essam el-Erian and Abdur-Rahman Al-Barr also detained.

The raids took place across the country including Alexandria in the north, the southern province of Asyut and the Nile Delta.

An anonymous security official told the AFP news agency that those arrested were accused of “membership of an outlawed group”.

Although the Brotherhood claims the arrests were intended to “undermine participation by the group ahead of legislative elections later this year”.

Egypt is set to elect the parliament’s upper house, known as the Shura Council, in April.