Egypt arrests 8 from Muslim Brotherhood in sweep

Egypt arrests 8 from Muslim Brotherhood in sweep

Egyptian security forces arrested eight members of the opposition Muslim Brotherhood in dawn raids on their homes in the Nile Delta province of Kafr al-Sheikh on Monday, security sources and the group said.


The men were accused of belonging to a banned group and of possessing anti-government literature, the security sources said. The Brotherhood confirmed the arrests on its Web site, www.ikhwanonline.com.


The Egyptian government considers the Brotherhood an illegal organisation and often detains its members without formal charges.


But members of the group, Egypt”s most influential opposition force, hold a fifth of the seats in parliament and the non-violent movement operates openly within limits.