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 
USA
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