The Egyptian prosecutor general extended the detention of Dr. Issam al Aryan, Secretary General of the Doctors’ Syndicate and prominent member of the Muslim Brotherhood for an additional fifteen days from Thursday. Three other figures who were arrested at his house last May were also remanded in custody pending further investigation. They are: Dr. Issam Deraj, from the faculty of architecture, Hamdi Shaheen assistant professor in Cairo University's Dar el Aloum and lawyer Yasser Abdu. All four were charged with membership of an illegal group, calling for disobedience against the regime, possession and distribution of publications, which promote the aims of this group. Earlier in the week, the general prosecutor had extended the detention of Mahmud Izzat, Secretary General of the banned group for a further fifteen days. He is accused of planning demonstrations in opposition of the upcoming presidential election, three months after he was arrested following a government crackdown where security forces arrested hundreds of activists after they took part in nationwide protests. This extension comes amidst speculations about a possible deal between the Egyptian government and the Brotherhood which would see two leaders released in return for the group withholding support of candidates running against President Hosni Mubarak which the Brotherhood categorically denies.