Muslim Brotherhood Backs Egypt's Military—for Now

Instead of moving to quash Egypt's temporary military leadership, the Muslim Brotherhood is getting behind it, the head of the Islamist group's political party tells the New York Times. The military aims to maintain its appointed prime minister and Cabinet until the presidential election in June, but the Brotherhood's decision to support that has prompted concern among Egyptians worried that the group has gone too easy on the country's leadership for too long.

But Essam al-Erian notes that "no people can support" permanent power for the military, and the Brotherhood's political party will fight for the Parliament's right to pick a future constitutional assembly. Following the presidential election and ratification of a new constitution, "within three months we can have the military back in their camps safely," Erian says. He also rejected claims that the Brotherhood wouldn't accept longstanding American aid. "If the Americans are ready to support a democratic government in Egypt, this means a lot." Click through for more from the interview. (More Egypt stories.)