Scores of Muslim Brothers detained in Cairo during demonstrations

The Egyptian security forces detained 100 members and supporters of the banned Ikhwan al-Muslimine (Muslim Brothers) groups during and prior to the demonstrations which demand political reforms organized by the group in Cairo though it was banned by the Egyptian ministry of the interior.

In a statement, the ministry said that the police held 50 demonstrators for rejecting ordered to disperse. Earlier on Sunday morning the Egyptian security forces detained 49 leading figures, who organized the demonstrations, under the charge of being in possession of banned books and publications against the ruling regime and violating security.

However, the authorities released on late Sunday evening 7 of the detainees including member of the guidance ( Irshad ) office in the group Dr. Abdul Menem Abu al-Fotouh.

The general guide of the Muslim Brothers, Mahdi Akef, said "there is a detention campaign in all Egyptian governorates ongoing since Sunday evening," stressing that the security forces notified his group of the ban on demonstrations, "but we were determined to organize the demonstration because we had announced it." Akef expressed regret over the authorities banning of the demonstration, describing official measures as "disgusting," questioning simultaneously the reasons behind the ban despite the fact that the authorities permitted other parties like the communists and the Egyptian Movement for Change "Kefaya" (enough) to organize earlier demonstrations.