Egyptian police arrested 25 members of the opposition Muslim Brotherhood organisation late on Tuesday in the oasis city of Fayoum on charges of holding meetings to prepare for upcoming local elections, a security official said.
The men, including local Brotherhood leader Dr Ahmed Abdel Rahman, a hospital director, were arrested while conducting a strategy session to prepare for April’s municipal elections, the official added on condition of anonymity because he is not authorised to speak to the press.
The website of the Islamist organisation, which is banned but still contests elections as independents and holds a fifth of the seats in Parliament, confirmed the arrests.
Long ignored and left to supporters of the ruling party, municipal elections have gained in importance following a 2005 change in the electoral law requiring parties to hold a certain number of municipal seats if they want to field a presidential candidate.
Authorities have increasingly cracked down on the Muslim Brotherhood since December, including sending 40 of its top financiers and businessmen to a military tribunal on charges of money laundering and supporting terrorism. – Sapa-AP