Egyptian prosecutors on Wednesday ordered the arrest of senior Muslim Brotherhood leaders in a widening crackdown on Islamists following the ouster of the country’s first democratically elected president last week.
The arrest warrants for the Muslim Brotherhood’s Supreme Guide Mohamed Badei and nine Islamist figures accuse them of inciting violence Monday in Cairo, where at least 51 people were killed and more than 300 injured.
Gehad el-Haddad, a Muslim Brotherhood spokesman, said the arrest warrants are politically motivated and aimed at disrupting the large pro-Morsi vigil in Cairo’s Nasr City district.
The Muslim Brotherhood’s political arm, the Freedom and Justice Party, said the army had fired on “peaceful protesters” who were performing dawn prayers.
The military accused “an armed terrorist group” of instigating the crackdown by first attacking the Republican Guard headquarters, where ousted President Mohammed Morsi is believed to be under arrest.
Following the violence, the Freedom and Justice Party called for a “peaceful uprising” against Egypt’s military.
SEE ALSO: Levin: Egypt’s military conducted ‘coup’
Meanwhile, Egyptian media reported that Hazem el-Biblawi, who was appointed interim prime minister on Tuesday, will offer positions in his Cabinet to the Freedom and Justice Party. The Islamists are expected to reject the offer.
• Ashish Kumar Sen can be reached at asen@washingtontimes.com.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.