Police detain Brotherhood members in Nile Delta

By Staff
|
Google Oneindia News

CAIRO, May 20 (Reuters) Egyptian police have detained 14 leading members of the Muslim Brotherhood in the Nile Delta province of Sharkia while they were at a planning meeting, the state news agency MENA said today.

Brotherhood deputy leader Mohamed Habib told Reuters police were holding 13 senior members after raiding their homes yesterday in and around the town of Abu Hammad, about 70 km (40 miles) northeast of the capital Cairo.

He said the authorities were trying to disrupt the Islamist movement's preparations for June 11 elections to the Shoura Council, or upper house of parliament, which the Brotherhood is contesting with at least 17 candidates for the 88 seats.

''This is the beginning of the violations in the electoral campaign. The regime will not change its means or its methods in dealing with the opposition or the Brotherhood,'' he added.

He said the latest detentions bring to about 300 the number of Muslim Brotherhood members in custody, mostly without charge.

The Brotherhood is Egypt's largest opposition group, with 88 seats in the 454-seat parliament. The authorities call it an illegal organisation and refuse to let it form a party.

Police often detain members for holding meetings, possessing Brotherhood literature or belonging to an illegal group.

The state news agency said police had found Brotherhood documents at the site of the meeting yesterday and the public prosecutor's office was investigating.

REUTERS SW KN1433

For Daily Alerts
Get Instant News Updates
Enable
x
Notification Settings X
Time Settings
Done
Clear Notification X
Do you want to clear all the notifications from your inbox?
Settings X
X