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Egypt arrests Badie for inciting violence
The arrest of Mohammed Badie, 70, the Brotherhoods general guide, followed the bloody suppression of rallies demanding the reinstatement of Egypts ousted president Mohammed Mursi. The Brotherhoods Freedom and Justice Party newspaper reported the movement had named Mahmoud Ezzat, an influential former deputy to Badie, as its temporary leader. However, a spokesman for the Brotherhoods political party, Khaled Hanafi, said he could neither confirm nor deny the report. Ezzat has not appeared in public since Mursi was removed. Badie was charged in July with incitement to murder in connection with protests before Mursis ouster and is due to stand trial on August 25 along with his two deputies. Footage shown on local media showed the bearded leader sitting grim-faced in a grey robe near a man with a rifle following his detention in Cairo in the early hours. The release of the images seemed designed to humiliate the Brotherhood chief, whose arrest means the groups top echelon is now behind bars, with other leaders dropping out of sight. The Brotherhood condemned the detention of Badie, whose 38-year-old son was killed in Cairo clashes on Friday. When the hand of oppression extends to arrest this important symbol, that means the military coup has used up everything in its pocket and is readying to depart, it said. The state news agency said Badie was now in Cairos Tora prison, where other Brotherhood leaders are held. Posted by: Steve White 2013-08-21 |
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