Election of ruling party members cause tension with Muslim brothers in Egypt
Egypt, Politics, 12/29/2003

A new crisis erupted between the Egyptian government and the banned Ikhwan al-Muslimin (Muslim Brothers) group, after the speaker of the Egyptian parliament Ahmad Fatehi Sorour expelled the chairman of the parliamentary group of the Muslim brothers, Muhammad Mursi from yesterday's session, and brought him to the "ethics committee."

Sorour ordered for the expulsion of the Muslim Brother parliamentarian, after he had objected to the way complementary elections were made for the membership of the People's Assembly ( the parliament) in 21 electoral circles in 12 Egyptian governorates, where seats were empty because of resignations caused by parliament members that did not serve in military service.

Mursi considered that these elections were a violation to the rules of the judiciary, issued to this effect, which in many circles stated that the elections should have included the same candidates who where in the previous elections, and not new candidates to join the election competition.

The Muslim brothers occupy 16 seats in the Egyptian parliament, as independents.

Results of the complementary elections showed that 7 members of the ruling National Party and one independent candidate won the election, whereas on Wednesday a new round of elections will be held in other 13 circles in which 26 candidates are competing over 13 seats for the People's Assembly ( parliament).

Previous Stories:
  Syrian - Egyptian committee statements   (12/23/2003)
  Muslim brothers members detained in Egypt   (12/12/2003)
  Egypt: al-Wafd boycotts complementary legislative elections   (12/1/2003)
  Mubarak's address to the Parliament: rule of law as a fundamental approach   (11/21/2003)

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