Eight opposition Islamists arrested in Egypt

CAIRO, Oct 14 (Reuters) Egyptian authorities have arrested eight members of Egypt's strongest opposition group, the banned Muslim Brotherhood, north of Cairo in Egypt's Nile Delta, security sources said today.

The arrests were the latest government steps targeting the Islamist group whose members, elected as independents, hold 88 seats in the 454-seat parliament. The Brotherhood is officially banned in Egypt but is allowed to operate openly within limits.

Security sources said the eight Brotherhood members were arrested yesterday from their homes in the Manoufiya province, and were charged with belonging to an illegal organisation and possessing anti-government pamphlets.

The Muslim Brotherhood confirmed the arrests on its Web site www.ikhwanonline.com.

The arrests came less than a week after Egyptian authorities barred Brotherhood leader Mohamed Mahdi Akef from travelling to Saudi Arabia for a religious pilgrimage.

The Egyptian police regularly detain Brotherhood members for brief periods, often without charges. Hundreds were arrested in a crackdown following parliamentary lections held late last year. Most were later released.

REUTERS SHB BST2042