Middle East News

Four Brotherhood members arrested for rioting, "seven at large"

Oct 24, 2007, 14:39 GMT

Cairo - Four Egyptian members of the banned Muslim Brotherhood group were arrested Wednesday in relation to earlier clashes and riots in Sharqiya province. Seven wanted Brotherhood members, who are allegedly involved in the same clashes, 'are at large,' according to local authorities. The said clashes occurred during prayers on the Muslim feast of Eid al-Fitr on October 13 where 35 Brotherhood members were arrested on the spot. All 46 group members are accused of violently disrupting prayers by preventing the local imams from the tradition of praying in a public square. Witnesses and authorities earlier said the so-called Brothers had tried to secure a designated area on the square, but were prevented by police. Clashes broke out and the Brothers started pelting security forces with stones. Police sources said a senior police officer and five other policemen were injured. The brotherhood members had carried pamphlets promoting the outlawed group and batons when they were arrested during prayers, authorities also claimed. The Muslim Brotherhood is an Islamic group that functions much like an opposition political party at loggerheads with the ruling party. It is also considered a strong social organization with a large network across Egypt building and running mosques, hospital facilities and charity organisations. Eighty-eight members of Egypt's lower-house of parliament are loyal to this group. © 2007 dpa - Deutsche Presse-Agentur

Middle East News

Four Brotherhood members arrested for rioting, "seven at large"

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