Egypt PM: We Should Ban Muslim Brotherhood

Gov't considers his idea, as security forces storm mosque
By Ruth Brown,  Newser Staff
Posted Aug 17, 2013 4:48 PM CDT
Egypt May Ban Muslim Brotherhood
Egyptians security forces escort an Islamist supporter of the Muslim Brotherhood out of the al-Fatah mosque.   (AP Photo/Hussein Tallal)

With more than 700 now dead in four days of violence, Egypt's PM has proposed a ban on the Muslim Brotherhood, and the government says it's now looking into the possibility, Reuters reports. "There will be no reconciliation with those whose hands have been stained with blood and who turned weapons against the state and its institutions," says Hazem el-Beblawi. The ban could result in mass arrests and force other supporters underground, says Reuters. Egyptian authorities say they have arrested more than 1,000 Brotherhood supporters after yesterday's violence, and 250 are now being investigated for murder, attempted murder, and terrorism, Reuters reports.

Earlier today, security forces raided the the al-Fatah Mosque in Cairo, where hundreds had barricaded themselves in overnight. State media reports that armed men were shooting down from the mosque's minaret, while soldiers fired back from outside. Security forces say they acted because they feared the Brotherhood was setting up another sit-in, the AP reports. Today's arrest of the brother of al-Qaeda chief Ayman al-Zawahri was reportedly related to the raid—officials say Mohammed al-Zawahri planned to bring armed back-up for the mosque. (More Egypt stories.)

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