Egypt authorities continue arrest of Brotherhood leaders

Egyptian riot police parked near the main access to Cairo's landmark Tahrir square Supporters of ousted president Mohammed Morsi called on the Egyptian people to protest against the army on Friday as security forces continued to arrest leading members of the Muslim Brotherhood. On Thursday, a number of Brotherhood figures were arrested, including the group’s official spokesman Ahmed Aref.
The arrests follow Tuesday’s arrest of Mohammed Badie, the group’s spiritual guide.
Aref was arrested in Nasr City in east Cairo, on Thursday and has so far been detained for 15 days.
Hassan El-Prince and Fathi Shehab were also arrested in Cairo, Egyptian news website Ahram online reported. El-Prince, who was arrested while participating in a pro-Morsi demonstration, is a leading member of the Brotherhood and was deputy governor of the city of Alexandria. Shehab, a former lawmaker for the Brotherhood’s Freedom and Justice Party, was arrested in an apartment in New Cairo.
Security sources also announced the arrest of member of the Brotherhood’s guidance bureau and former MP Ahmed Abu-Baraka.
Mostafa Taher Ghoneim, another member of the guidance bureau and a leader of the organisation for the Nile Delta region, was also arrested on Thursday.
Outside Cairo, in the Nile Delta governorate of Beheira, Brotherhood official Mohamed Nagui was arrested and charged with acts of violence including the burning of the governorate building and several police vehicles.
The National Alliance to Support Legitimacy, consisting of 33 Islamic parties, including the Muslim Brotherhood, called on all Egyptians on Wednesday to protest after Friday prayers.
In response, the Ministry of Endowments decided to prevent Friday prayers in Fath mosque in Ramses, and al-Nour mosque in Abbasiya in Cairo, both scenes of large demonstrations in the past.
Meanwhile, anti-military protests continued in many areas of Cairo in support of Morsi. The protesters chanted slogans against the military coup and Defence Minister General Abdel Fattah al-Sisi.
Morsi, who was democratically elected last year, was ousted by the army on July 3, and is being held at an undisclosed location. A military crackdown on Morsi's supporters has left hundreds dead.