Egyptian authorities have arrested another senior member of the Islamist Muslim Brotherhood, continuing a crackdown against the group following the military ouster of president Mohamed Morsi. Officials said Wednesday that Essam El-Erian, the deputy leader of the Brotherhoods political wing, was arrested at a home in New Cairo. Hundreds of Brotherhood leaders, including Morsi, have been arrested since July and charged with inciting violence. The deposed leaders supporters have carried out mass protests demanding he be reinstated. Some of the demonstrations have turned violent. More than 1,000 people, mostly Islamists, have been killed in the clashes. On Tuesday, three judges presiding over the trial of 35 Brotherhood members stepped down, saying they felt uneasy about the proceedings but giving no specific details. However, judicial officials said the judges withdrew because the Interior Ministry would not allow the defendants to sit in the courtroom. The development means a new set of judges will be assigned and that the trial will have to start over. The defendants, including Muslim Brotherhood leader Mohamed Badie, are accused of inciting violence that led to the deaths of nine protesters outside Brotherhood headquarters last December. Morsi is accused of inciting violence that cased the deaths of other protesters in June. His trial is set to begin November 4.
Posted on: Wed, 30 Oct 2013 05:33:10 +0000
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