/ 18 October 2000

EGYPT’S ELECTIONS BEGIN SANS ISLAMISTS

A MONTH of Egyptian legislative elections has started without the participation of what political observers call the country’s largest opposition force – the Muslim Brotherhood. Egypt’s Islamists, who are prevented by law from evoking religion in their politics, have accused the government of “rigging the elections in advance” by arresting members of the banned Brotherhood, who intended to run as independent candidates for one of parliament’s 454 seats. – AFP